title: Epigenetic mechanisms underlying the link between non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases and nutrition.
abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined as a pathologic accumulation of fat in the form of triglycerides (TG) in the liver (steatosis) that is not caused by alcohol. A subgroup of NAFLD patients shows liver cell injury and inflammation coupled with the excessive fat accumulation (steatohepatitis), which is referred to as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Patients with NASH may develop cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). NAFLD shares the key features of metabolic syndrome including obesity, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is multi-factorial, however the oxidative stress seems to plays a major role in the development and progression of the disease. The emerging field of epigenetics provides a new perspective on the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Epigenetics is an inheritable but reversible phenomenon that affects gene expression without altering the DNA sequence and refers to DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNAs. Epigenetic manipulation through metabolic pathways such as one-carbon metabolism has been proposed as a promising approach to retard the progression of NAFLD. Investigating the epigenetic modifiers in NAFLD may also lead to the development of preventive or therapeutic strategies for NASH-associated complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Bundang CHA Hospital, CHA University School of Medicine, Seoul 463-712, Korea. piolee2000@naver.com.
authors.forename: Joo Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Verona School of Medicine, Verona 37134, Italy. simonetta.friso@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friso
authors.affiliation: Clinical Genomic Center, Chaum Life Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seoul 135-948, Korea. sang.choi@cha.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sang-Woon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides