Genomics and complex liver disease: Challenges and opportunities.

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Hepatology. 2006 Dec;44(6):1380-90.

Genomics

and complex liver disease: Challenges and opportunities.

Juran BD, Lazaridis KN.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Center for Basic Research in

Digestive Diseases, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester,

MN

The concept of genetic susceptibility in the contribution to human disease is

not new. What is new is the emerging ability of the

field of genomics to detect, assess, and interpret genetic variation in the

study of susceptibility to development of disease. Deciphering

the human genome sequence and the publication of the human haplotype

map are key elements of this effort. However, we are

only beginning to understand the contribution of genetic predisposition to

complex liver disease through its interaction with environmental risk factors. In the coming decade, we anticipate the development of

human studies to better dissect the genotype/phenotype relationship of complex

liver diseases. This endeavor will require large,

well-phenotyped patient populations of each disease

of interest and proper study designs aimed at answering important questions of

hepatic disease prognosis, pathogenesis, and treatment. Teamwork between patients,

physicians, and genomics scientists can ensure that this opportunity leads to

important biological discoveries and improved treatment of complex disease.

PMID: 17133459 [PubMed - indexed

for MEDLINE]