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Innovative Molecular Target and Therapeutic Approaches in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH) 4.0

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2024 | Viewed by 2996

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is among the most common liver diseases worldwide, affecting up to 20–30% of the human population. NAFLD is usually associated with the metabolic syndrome that is characterized by increased abdominal fat, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, and high blood triglycerides. In about 10% of individuals, NAFLD progresses to steatohepatitis (NASH), with a long-term risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, among the most important causes of liver transplantation in US with consequent relevant social and economic impact. Nonetheless, specific pharmacological targets and treatment have not been found yet, leaving important medical needs still to be met. The Special Issue, “Innovative Molecular Target and Therapeutic Approaches in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NAFLD/NASH)”, of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, will include a selection of original research papers and reviews on novel molecular and cellular targets to prevent and treat NAFLD. This Special Issue will also include an update on the management of liver steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis.

Dr. Mariapia Vairetti
Dr. Giuseppe Colucci
Dr. Andrea Ferrigno
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • fatty liver
  • steatosis
  • steatohepatitis
  • inflammation
  • fibrosis
  • cytochines
  • chemokine receptors
  • insulin sensitizing drugs
  • farnesoid X receptor agonists
  • bile acids
  • oxidative stress
  • mitochondrial function
  • peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs)

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

26 pages, 3210 KiB  
Review
NAFLD (MASLD)/NASH (MASH): Does It Bother to Label at All? A Comprehensive Narrative Review
by Consolato M. Sergi
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(15), 8462; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25158462 - 2 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2537
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a liver condition that is linked to overweight, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), is a form of NAFLD/MASLD that progresses over [...] Read more.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is a liver condition that is linked to overweight, obesity, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), or metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), is a form of NAFLD/MASLD that progresses over time. While steatosis is a prominent histological characteristic and recognizable grossly and microscopically, liver biopsies of individuals with NASH/MASH may exhibit several other abnormalities, such as mononuclear inflammation in the portal and lobular regions, hepatocellular damage characterized by ballooning and programmed cell death (apoptosis), misfolded hepatocytic protein inclusions (Mallory–Denk bodies, MDBs), megamitochondria as hyaline inclusions, and fibrosis. Ballooning hepatocellular damage remains the defining feature of NASH/MASH. The fibrosis pattern is characterized by the initial expression of perisinusoidal fibrosis (“chicken wire”) and fibrosis surrounding the central veins. Children may have an alternative form of progressive NAFLD/MASLD characterized by steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis, mainly in Rappaport zone 1 of the liver acinus. To identify, synthesize, and analyze the scientific knowledge produced regarding the implications of using a score for evaluating NAFLD/MASLD in a comprehensive narrative review. The search for articles was conducted between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2023, on the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. This search was complemented by a gray search, including internet browsers (e.g., Google) and textbooks. The following research question guided the study: “What are the basic data on using a score for evaluating NAFLD/MASLD?” All stages of the selection process were carried out by the single author. Of the 1783 articles found, 75 were included in the sample for analysis, which was implemented with an additional 25 articles from references and gray literature. The studies analyzed indicated the beneficial effects of scoring liver biopsies. Although similarity between alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) and NASH/MASH occurs, some patterns of hepatocellular damage seen in alcoholic disease of the liver do not happen in NASH/MASH, including cholestatic featuring steatohepatitis, alcoholic foamy degeneration, and sclerosing predominant hyaline necrosis. Generally, neutrophilic-rich cellular infiltrates, prominent hyaline inclusions and MDBs, cholestasis, and obvious pericellular sinusoidal fibrosis should favor the diagnosis of alcohol-induced hepatocellular injury over NASH/MASH. Multiple grading and staging methods are available for implementation in investigations and clinical trials, each possessing merits and drawbacks. The systems primarily used are the Brunt, the NASH CRN (NASH Clinical Research Network), and the SAF (steatosis, activity, and fibrosis) systems. Clinical investigations have utilized several approaches to link laboratory and demographic observations with histology findings with optimal platforms for clinical trials of rapidly commercialized drugs. It is promising that machine learning procedures (artificial intelligence) may be critical for developing new platforms to evaluate the benefits of current and future drug formulations. Full article
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