Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Background and Aims Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a progressive hepatic metabolic disorder characterized by excessive fat accumulation in hepatocytes. MASLD can advance to metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatohepatitis (MASH). These conditions often lead to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) if not timely diagnosed and managed; thus, molecular phenotyping of MASLD and MASH conditions is highly desirable. The analyses were performed to identify distinct, differentially expressed genes, particularly noncoding ones, in MASLD and MASH patient samples, thereby expanding diagnostic and therapeutic options. Methods We extracted the data from a recent transcriptomic study by Govaere et al. on MASLD and MASH patient samples. We focused on transcripts with limited coding potential to broaden the scope of biomarker or therapeutic target identification, given their very specific expression patterns. Results This analysis identified long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) that are differentially expressed among MASLD and MASH conditions. Among the up‐regulated lncRNAs, 49 were specific to MASLD, such as MYCNOS . In contrast, 88 were unique to MASH, such as ELFN2‐208 , LINC01507 and LINC01435 . Similarly, among the down‐regulated noncoding transcripts, 93 were unique to MASLD, including AADACL2‐AS1 and ST8SIA6‐AS1 , whereas 132 were unique to MASH, such as SYBU‐AS1 , LGALS17A‐207, ZNF474‐AS1 and LINC01116 . Additionally, we employed the Genomic Regions Enrichment of Annotations Tool (GREAT) to assess their functional relevance in MASLD or MASH and to link them to biologically meaningful terms. Conclusion This study broadens the scope of noncoding RNA‐based MASLD/MASH biomarker and therapeutic target identification, which ultimately aids early diagnosis of these prominent liver diseases and helps prevent advanced liver diseases such as HCC.
DOI: 10.1002/lci2.70053
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Awards: South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research (ST-CECR), Integrated Cancer Research Core (ICRC), UTEP FIRST: United Toward Equity and Progress: Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation, G9000162830, G9000211830, Rio Grande Valley Cancer Health Disparity Research Center, A novel hyper-immunogenic low virulent BCG vaccine against tuberculosis, Analysis of Divergent Transcripts in Estrogen-Dependent Signaling, Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine Core, UTEP/UTMDACC Partnership for Hispanic Cancer Disparities Research
OpenAlex ID: W7169570414