title: Immunological and molecular basis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
abstract: The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is rising worldwide with the increasing incidence of obesity, Type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. NASH is currently one of the most common indications of liver transplantation in the United States. The immune system plays a major role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD/NASH. The metabolic changes, associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome, induce immunological responses resulting in NAFLD and further aggravation of the metabolic derangement in a feed-forward loop. Genetic and endocrine factors modulate the immunological and metabolic responses and determine the pathophysiological features of NAFLD. Histologically, NAFLD is a spectrum that ranges from simple hepatic steatosis to severe steatohepatitis, liver cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are responsible for the morbidity and mortality of the disease. This article is a critical evaluation of our current knowledge of the immunological and molecular basis of the disease.
authors: Center for Clinical & Translational Science, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE 68178, USA.
authors: Mohamed M
authors: MM
authors: Radwan
authors: Basil M
authors: BM
authors: Radwan
authors: Kalyana C
authors: KC
authors: Nandipati
authors: William J
authors: WJ
authors: Hunter
authors: Devendra K
authors: DK
authors: Agrawal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease