Branched chain amino acid transaminase 1 (BCAT1) is overexpressed and hypomethylated in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease who experience adverse clinical events: A pilot study.

We found differential gene expression, correlated to changes in DNA methylation, at multiple BCAT1 loci in patients with cardiovascular outcomes and/or hepatic decompensation. BCAT1 catalyzes the transformation of alpha-ketoglutarate to glutamate and has been linked to the presence and severity of NAFLD, possibly through derangements in the balance between glutamate and alpha-ketoglutarate. Given the potential for BCAT1 to identify patients at risk for poor outcomes, and the potential therapeutic implications, these results should be validated in larger prospective studies.