title: Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response in Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis: The Possible Role of Physical Exercise.
abstract: Sedentary lifestyle coupled with excessive consumption of high caloric food has been related to the epidemic increase of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which can progress from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis and, eventually, may culminate in hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the precise mechanisms underlying the progression of NASH are not completely understood, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction seems to play a key role in the process. Hepatic ER stress has been associated to hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress and hepatocyte death, contributing to liver dysfunction. Physical exercise seems to be the most effective preventive and therapeutic non-pharmacological strategy to mitigate several features related to NASH, possibly targeting most of the referred mechanisms associated with the pathophysiology of ER-related NASH. Nevertheless, little is known about the impact of physical exercise on NASH-related ER stress. In this review, we will discuss the ER stress associated to NASH conditions and highlight the possible benefits of physical exercise in the attenuation and/or reversion of NASH-related ER stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Emanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Passos
authors.affiliation: Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ascensão
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria João
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: jmaga@fade.up.pt.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Magalhães
mesh_terms: D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000502:physiology; D059865:Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Chemical chaperones; Endoplasmic reticulum stress; Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; Physical exercise