title: Molecular Bases Underlying the Hepatoprotective Effects of Coffee.
abstract: Coffee is the most consumed beverage worldwide. Epidemiological studies with prospective cohorts showed that coffee intake is associated with reduced cardiovascular and all-cause mortality independently of caffeine content. Cohort and case-control studies reported an inverse association between coffee consumption and the degree of liver fibrosis as well as the development of liver cancer. Furthermore, the beneficial effects of coffee have been recently confirmed by large meta-analyses. In the last two decades, various in vitro and in vivo studies evaluated the molecular determinants for the hepatoprotective effects of coffee. In the present article, we aimed to critically review experimental evidence regarding the active components and the molecular bases underlying the beneficial role of coffee against chronic liver diseases. Almost all studies highlighted the beneficial effects of this beverage against liver fibrosis with the most solid results indicating a pivot role for both caffeine and chlorogenic acids. In particular, in experimental models of fibrosis, caffeine was shown to inhibit hepatic stellate cell activation by blocking adenosine receptors, and emerging evidence indicated that caffeine may also favorably impact angiogenesis and hepatic hemodynamics. On the other side, chlorogenic acids, potent phenolic antioxidants, suppress liver fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis by reducing oxidative stress and counteract steatogenesis through the modulation of glucose and lipid homeostasis in the liver. Overall, these molecular insights may have translational significance and suggest that coffee components need clinical evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Ospedale di Acireale, Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale di Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy. federicosalomone@rocketmail.com.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salomone
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy. fgalvano@unict.it.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galvano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy. livolti@unict.it.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li Volti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D003069:Coffee / Q000737:chemistry*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D003069:Coffee; D010936:Plant Extracts; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid; D002110:Caffeine
keywords: caffeine; chlorogenic acid; liver cancer; liver fibrosis; liver steatosis