A single nucleotide polymorphism of PLIN2 is associated with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and causes phenotypic changes in hepatocyte lipid droplets: A pilot study

• rs35568725, coding Perilipin-2 Ser251Pro, may convey nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) risk. • 18.2% of subjects with NASH versus 7.5% of healthy controls carry the rs35568725 variant allele. • In this study, the odds ratio for NASH conveyed by rs35568725 is ~3 ( p = 0.02). • Perilipin-2 Ser251Pro yields smaller, more numerous hepatocyte lipid droplets .