Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD). Mitochondria as Players and Targets of Therapies?
Year: 2021
Type: review
Abstract: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease and represents the hepatic expression of several metabolic abnormalities of high epidemiologic relevance. Fat accumulation in the hepatocytes results in cellular fragility and risk of progression toward necroinflammation, i.e., nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma. Several pathways contribute to fat accumulation and damage in the liver and can also involve the mitochondria, whose functional integrity is essential to maintain liver bioenergetics. In NAFLD/NASH, both structural and functional mitochondrial abnormalities occur and can involve mitochondrial electron transport chain, decreased mitochondrial β-oxidation of free fatty acids, excessive generation of reactive oxygen species, and lipid peroxidation. NASH is a major target of therapy, but there is no established single or combined treatment so far. Notably, translational and clinical studies point to mitochondria as future therapeutic targets in NAFLD since the prevention of mitochondrial damage could improve liver bioenergetics.
DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105375
Language: English
Subfield: Hepatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,160
Awards: G434337789, GPR30 and hepatic cholesterol metabolism, GPR30 and Hepatic Cholesterol Homeostasis, Diabetes Research and Training Center, Bioenergetic Remodeling in the Pathophysiology and Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, NYR-Diabetes Research Center (NYR-DRC), mitoFOIE GRAS: Non-invasive Profiling of Mitochondrial Function in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
OpenAlex ID: W3160314721