Pathophysiology Articles

Explore articles focused on the pathophysiology of NASH. Gain a deeper understanding of the disease processes, from risk factors and progression to potential treatment targets.

Sugar and fat increase the risk of advanced liver disease

In this editorial, P. Manka Essen University Hospital, Germany) and W. K. Syn (Medical University of South Carolina, USA) comment a study by Benhammou and colleagues, who evaluated the effects of NAFLD risk factors including obesity and diabetes on the long-term outcomes of patients with HCV treated with direct-acting antivirals...

Read MoreSugar and fat increase the risk of advanced liver disease

NAFLD and hepatic sexual dimorphism

This review by Philippe Lefebvre and Bart Staels (INSERM, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, France) discusses the accumulating evidence of sexual dimorphism in NAFLD. Liver pathophysiology is sexually dimorphic, and male individuals predominantly show more severe stages of non-alcoholic fatty liver, NASH and fibrosis than do female individuals...
Read MoreNAFLD and hepatic sexual dimorphism

Review: NAFLD, driver of chronic kidney disease

The relationship between NAFLD and chronic kidney disease has attracted much attention recently. NAFLD and chronic kidney disease may share common pathogenic mechanisms, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and obesity, and thus may potentially share same therapeutic targets. Growing evidence suggests...
Read MoreReview: NAFLD, driver of chronic kidney disease

Dynamic changes in liver macrophage subsets during NASH

Macrophage-mediated inflammation is critical in the pathogenesis of NASH. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, S. Daemen et al. (Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MI, USA) evaluated intra-hepatic macrophage composition in a mouse model of obesity with NAFLD and in a model of NASH...
Read MoreDynamic changes in liver macrophage subsets during NASH

The global burden of cirrhosis: the role of NAFLD

The World Health Organization’s metric of public health burden is the disability-adjusted life-year (DALY), the sum of years of life lost due to premature death and years of life lived with disability. Cirrhosis was responsible for 26.8% fewer DALYs in 2019 than in 1990, which is positive...
Read MoreThe global burden of cirrhosis: the role of NAFLD

Clinical indicators for progression of NASH to cirrhosis

Providing clinicians with the tools to diagnose and treat the full spectrum of NAFLD will help prevent known complications such as cirrhosis and HCC and improve quality of life for these patients.This article by T. K. Seen et al. (Icahn School of Medicine, Elmhurst Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital, USA) discusses...
Read MoreClinical indicators for progression of NASH to cirrhosis

Alterations in gut microbiota in NASH

NAFLD pathophysiology has been linked to lower microbial diversity and a weakened intestinal barrier, exposing the host to bacterial components and stimulating pathways of immune defence and inflammation via toll-like receptor signaling. Moreover, this activation of inflammation in hepatocytes induces progression from simple steatosis to NASH...
Read MoreAlterations in gut microbiota in NASH

From NAFLD/NASH to HCC: role of mitochondrial defects

This review by M. Longo et al. (IRCCS – Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy) discusses how mitochondrial defects may be translated into causative explanations of NAFLD-driven hepatocellular carcinoma. Acting as central metabolic hubs, the mitochondria rapidly adapt to different metabolic alterations...
Read MoreFrom NAFLD/NASH to HCC: role of mitochondrial defects

NAFLD/NASH-related liver fibrosis: mechanisms, treatment, and prevention

NAFLD or NASH are nowadays the leading causes of hepatic fibrosis worldwide. In their review, F. Tacke (Charité University Medicine, Berlin, Germany) and R. Weiskirchen (RWTH University Hospital, Aachen, Germany) discuss recent advances in antifibrotic prevention and therapy....
Read MoreNAFLD/NASH-related liver fibrosis: mechanisms, treatment, and prevention

From NASH to hepatocellular carcinoma

End-stage NAFLD with liver cancer has an abysmal prognosis and effective medical therapies are lacking, therefore a better understanding of the disease mechanisms will ultimately help to improve patients’ care. The pathogenesis of NAFLD and transition to HCC is multifactorial, yet inflammation is considered a key element...
Read MoreFrom NASH to hepatocellular carcinoma