# Genetic Predisposition to MASLD: Potential for Therapeutic Management

**Authors:** Fani Karapanagiotidi, Chrysoula Boutari, Emmanouil Sinakos

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/ijms27041933 · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · 2026-02-18

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how genetic factors contribute to liver disease and how they may help develop personalized treatments.

## Contribution

The paper highlights recent genetic discoveries and their potential for targeted therapies in MASLD.

## Key findings

- Genetic variants like PNPLA3 and HSD17B13 are linked to MASLD pathogenesis.
- These genetic markers may guide the development of precision medicine therapies.
- Current clinical trials are exploring individualized treatment approaches for MASLD.

## Abstract

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is now the most common liver disease worldwide, with a continuously increasing prevalence. The mechanisms involved in its pathophysiology are numerous and may include metabolic, environmental, and genetic factors. Genome-wide association studies have identified key genetic variants, most notably in PNPLA3, TM6SF2, MBOAT7, GCKR, and HSD17B13. This mini review discusses the mechanisms through which these variants contribute to the disease pathogenesis, an area that remains a rapidly evolving field of research. Beyond improving our understanding of MASLD, the identification of these variants may also aid in the development of targeted pharmacological approaches. We first summarize the major genetic variants associated with MASLD and then present findings from studies exploring how these variants may influence the efficacy of emerging pharmacotherapies. Finally, we examine the therapeutic agents in the field of precision medicine that are currently being tested in clinical trials. These therapeutic opportunities are a promising approach that may provide individualized solutions for this chronic liver disorder that affects a wide range of the population.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** PNPLA3 (patatin like domain 3, 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase) [NCBI Gene 80339], TM6SF2 (transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2) [NCBI Gene 53345], MBOAT7 (membrane bound acylglycerophosphatidylinositol O-acyltransferase MBOAT7) [NCBI Gene 79143], GCKR (glucokinase regulator) [NCBI Gene 2646], HSD17B13 (hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 13) [NCBI Gene 345275]
- **Diseases:** Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MONDO:0013209), MASLD (MONDO:0013209)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** GCK (glucokinase) [NCBI Gene 2645] {aka FGQTL3, GK, GLK, HHF3, HK4, HKIV}, MTARC1 (mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component 1) [NCBI Gene 64757] {aka MARC1, MOSC1}, CD68 (CD68 molecule) [NCBI Gene 968] {aka GP110, LAMP4, SCARD1}, HSD17B6 (hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 6) [NCBI Gene 8630] {aka HSE, RODH, SDR9C6}, TM6SF2 (transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2) [NCBI Gene 53345], Tafazzin (tafazzin, phospholipid-lysophospholipid transacylase) [NCBI Gene 66826] {aka 5031411C02Rik, 9130012G04Rik, G4.5, Taz}, HSD17B13 (hydroxysteroid 17-beta dehydrogenase 13) [NCBI Gene 345275] {aka FLDP, HMFN0376, NIIL497, SCDR9, SDR16C3}, GCKR (glucokinase regulator) [NCBI Gene 2646] {aka FGQTL5, GKRP}, APOB (apolipoprotein B) [NCBI Gene 338] {aka FCHL2, FLDB, LDLCQ4, apoB-100, apoB-48}, KLB (klotho beta) [NCBI Gene 152831] {aka BKL}, MBOAT7 (membrane bound acylglycerophosphatidylinositol O-acyltransferase MBOAT7) [NCBI Gene 79143] {aka BB1, LENG4, LPIAT, LPIAT1, LPLAT, LPLAT11}, POLG (DNA polymerase gamma, catalytic subunit) [NCBI Gene 5428] {aka MIRAS, MTDPS4A, MTDPS4B, PEO, POLG1, POLGA}, CYTB (cytochrome b) [NCBI Gene 4519] {aka MTCYB}, GPAM (glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase, mitochondrial) [NCBI Gene 57678] {aka GPAT, GPAT1}, IRGM (immunity related GTPase M) [NCBI Gene 345611] {aka IBD19, IFI1, IRGM1, LRG-47, LRG47}, PYGO1 (pygopus family PHD finger 1) [NCBI Gene 26108], PPARA (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha) [NCBI Gene 5465] {aka NR1C1, PPAR, PPAR-alpha, PPARalpha, hPPAR}, Wwtr1 (WW domain containing transcription regulator 1) [NCBI Gene 97064] {aka 2310058J06Rik, 2610021I22Rik, Taz}, PNPLA3 (patatin like domain 3, 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase) [NCBI Gene 80339] {aka ADPN, C22orf20, iPLA(2)epsilon}, GLP1R (glucagon like peptide 1 receptor) [NCBI Gene 2740] {aka GLP-1, GLP-1-R, GLP-1R}, ATG7 (autophagy related 7) [NCBI Gene 10533] {aka APG7-LIKE, APG7L, GSA7, SCAR31}, THRB (thyroid hormone receptor beta) [NCBI Gene 7068] {aka C-ERBA-2, C-ERBA-BETA, ERBA2, GRTH, NR1A2, PRTH}, Mboat7 (membrane bound O-acyltransferase domain containing 7) [NCBI Gene 77582] {aka 5730589L02Rik, BB1, LPLAT 7, Leng4, Lpiat, Lpiat1}, TGFB1 (transforming growth factor beta 1) [NCBI Gene 7040] {aka CAEND1, CED, DPD1, IBDIMDE, LAP, TGF-beta1}, FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) [NCBI Gene 26291], Ihh (Indian hedgehog) [NCBI Gene 16147] {aka HHG-2}, INS (insulin) [NCBI Gene 3630] {aka IDDM, IDDM1, IDDM2, ILPR, IRDN, MODY10}
- **Diseases:** liver disorder (MESH:D017093), hepatic disease (MESH:D056486), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (MESH:D005235), obese (MESH:D009765), T2DM (MESH:D003924), MASH (MESH:D005234), Metabolic dysfunction (MESH:D008659), HCC (MESH:D006528), cirrhotic (MESH:D000094724), atherogenic (MESH:D050197), alcoholic cirrhosis (MESH:D008104), mitochondrial dysfunction (MESH:D028361), hypertension (MESH:D006973), dyslipidemia (MESH:D050171), cirrhosis (MESH:D005355), metabolic syndrome (MESH:D024821), injury to (MESH:D014947), hepatic inflammation (MESH:D007249), MASLD (MESH:D008107), insulin resistance (MESH:D007333), weight loss (MESH:D015431), liver fibrosis (MESH:D008103), prediabetes (MESH:D011236), NAFLD (MESH:D065626)
- **Chemicals:** malonyl-CoA (MESH:D008316), retinol (MESH:D014801), exenatide (MESH:D000077270), Resmetirom (MESH:C588408), AA (MESH:D016718), lipid (MESH:D008055), Thiazolidinediones (MESH:D045162), steroid (MESH:D013256), lysophosphatidylinositol (MESH:C025449), PD (MESH:D010165), omega-3 (MESH:D010743), Lanifibranor (MESH:C000619516), ROS (MESH:D017382), glucose (MESH:D005947), retinyl ester (MESH:D000084562), cholesterol (MESH:D002784), N-acetylgalactosamine (MESH:D000116), oligonucleotide (MESH:D009841), fructose-6-phosphate (MESH:C027618), polyunsaturated fatty acid (MESH:D005231), phosphatidylinositol (MESH:D010716), ALN-PNP (-), eicosanoid (MESH:D015777), triglyceride (MESH:D014280)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Mus musculus (house mouse, species) [taxon 10090]
- **Mutations:** rs1260326, p.I43V, rs72613567, 148I, C>G, rs58542926, rs2642438, rs143545741, C>T, rs36117895, rs641738, rs780094

## Full text

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## References

57 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12940723/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12940723