Author response: The genetic architecture of NAFLD among inbred strains of mice
Year: 2015
Type: peer-review
Abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a major health problem worldwide and is caused by an abnormal build-up of fat molecules in liver cells that disrupts how the cells work. Although many people with the disease show only mild or no symptoms, if the disease progresses the consequences—such as organ damage and an increased risk of liver cancer—can be severe. Although non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has been linked with obesity and diabetes, how it develops is poorly understood. The most widely supported explanation suggests that the disease begins with an imbalance in the process that normally maintains the correct amount of fat molecules called triglycerides inside cells. As a result, triglycerides accumulate in the liver cells in a process known as steatosis, which is then thought to make the liver vulnerable to further problems. However, this theory has been questioned by genetic experiments that suggest triglyceride build-up actually protects cells from other kinds of damage. Hui et al. studied mice that had been fed a diet that was high in fat and sugar. The extent of liver steatosis varied considerably between the mice, with some mice accumulating 30 times more triglyceride in their liver than others. The underlying variation in the genes of the mice was then examined to investigate whether this can explain the differences in liver condition. This revealed at least three DNA stretches that appear to be linked to triglyceride accumulation in the liver, including several genes that appear to be active during steatosis. One of these genes, known as Gde1, had not previously been shown to have a role in controlling how cells make and use triglycerides. To confirm the role of Gde1, Hui et al. artificially turned the gene on in some mice and prevented it from turning on in others. Turning on Gde1 significantly increased the amount of triglyceride in the liver and keeping it turned off decreased triglyceride levels. Hui et al. suggest that this is because Gde1 helps to make a precursor molecule that is needed to build triglycerides. Certain gut bacteria also appear to be linked to steatosis. This study used a population-based approach in mice to examine genetic factors in the development of fatty liver disease. The challenge now is to find out how the genes work and to understand their interactions with each other and with the environment.
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W2985429484