title: The Role of Epigenetics in the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease encompasses a spectrum of pathologies ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis have increased risk of cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. About 25% of subjects with simple steatosis progress to steatohepatitis; nowadays, the detailed pathological factors influencing the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease remains unclear. It is proposed that genetic and environmental factors interact to determine the disease phenotype. Epigenetics could explain some relationships between genes and external influences. The epigenetic changes that have been related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are DNA methylation, onecarbon metabolism, histone modifications and the presence of micro-RNA. DNA methylation and micro-RNAs have been investigated in human samples, whereas histone modifications have only been studied until now in animal and cellular models. The aim of this study is to review the most relevant information about epigenetic changes in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
authors.forename: Nancy Edith
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Olivos
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oria-Hernández
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ponciano-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Norberto Carlos
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Chávez-Tapia
authors.forename: Misael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uribe
authors.affiliation: Liver Research Unit, Medica Sur Clinic & Foundation, Puente de Piedra 150, Col. Toriello Guerra, ZP 14050, Mexico City, Mexico. nmendez@medicasur.org.mx.
authors.forename: Nahum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Méndez-Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*