Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of polymorphisms of cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3(PNPLA3) genes to the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC). Methods 110 patients with ALC and 100 healthy persons were recruited in our hospital between January 2017 and January 2019. The blood polymorphisms of CTLA-4 gene rs4675369 and PNPLA3 gene rs738409 were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results The percentages of CTLA-4 gene rs4675369 locus type AA, type AG and type GG in patients with ALC were 26.4%, 49.1% and 24.6%, not significantly different compared to 26.0%, 50.0% and 24.0% in healthy persons (P>0.05), and the percentages of A allele and G allele of CTLA-4 gene were 50.9% and 49.1%, without significant differences compared to 51.0% and 49.0% in healthy persons (P>0.05); the percentages of PNPLA3 gene rs738409 locus genotype GG and allele G in patients with ALC were 17.2% and 38.2%, significantly higher than 4.0% and 24.0%, respectively, in healthy persons (P<0.05); serum ALT, AST, GGT and ALP levels in ALC patients with CTLA-4 gene rs4675369 locus genotype AA,AG and GG or PNPLA3 gene rs738409 locus genotype CC, CG ad GG were not significantly different (P>0.05). Conclusions Ourstudy shows CTLA-4 gene polymorphism has nothing to do with the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and what roles of PNPLA3 gene play needs future further investigations.

Key words: Alcoholic liver cirrhosis, Cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4, Patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3, Gene polymorphism