Hypoxia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) represents a spectrum of fatty liver diseases associated with an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The spectrum of fatty liver diseases comprises simple steatosis, steatosis with inflammation [i.e. NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis)], fatty liver disease with inflammation and fibrosis (severe NASH) and cirrhosis. The molecular mechanisms contributing to NASH are the subject of considerable investigation, as a better understanding of the pathogenesis of NASH will lead to novel therapies for a condition that hitherto remains difficult to treat. In the present issue of Clinical Science, Piguet and co-workers have investigated the effects of hypoxia in the PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10)-deficient mouse, a mouse model that develops NAFLD. The authors show that a short period (7 days) of exposure to hypoxia aggravates the NAFLD phenotype, causing changes in the liver that are in keeping with NASH with increased lipogenesis and inflammation.
Byrne
Christopher D
CD
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Institute of Developmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, U.K. cdtb@southampton.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050155:Lipogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase / Q000172:deficiency
D051059:PTEN Phosphohydrolase; C487757:Pten protein, mouse