title: Molecular mechanism of hepatic steatosis: pathophysiological role of autophagy.
abstract: Steatosis is an early characteristic in the pathogenesis of fatty liver disease (FLD). Mechanisms of hepatic steatosis are aetiology-dependent. Activation of autophagy in liver ameliorates hepatic steatosis. A modulation of hepatic autophagy affects the degree of hepatocyte steatosis and the progression of FLD as demonstrated by pre-clinical models and clinical trials. This review summarises recent advances on pathophysiological roles of autophagy in hepatic lipid metabolism. A comprehensive regulation of autophagic networks holds promise for the improvement of hepatic steatosis. Autophagic signalling pathway may be a novel therapeutic target against FLD.
  
  
  
  • Hepatic steatosis is a pathological condition wherein vacuoles of triglyceride (TG) fat are overaccumulated in liver because of abnormal metabolism of lipids. • Hepatic autophagy regulates lipid metabolism as demonstrated by macrolipophagy in response to starvation and hepatic overabundance of TG in obesity. • Autophagic signals are closely associated with apoptotic pathways. There is distinctive relationship between hepatic autophagy and apoptosis, which affects the progression of fatty liver. • Regulation of autophagic process can be a novel therapeutic strategy for fatty liver disease.
authors: Departments of Surgery,University of Illinois College of Medicine,One Illini Drive,Peoria,IL 61605,USA.
authors: Kewei
authors: K
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects