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Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease: New Insights

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2021) | Viewed by 36355

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alessandro Mantovani

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Guest Editor

Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, University of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy
Interests: NAFLD; diabetes; ceramics; gender disparity in science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Andrea Dalbeni

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Co-Guest Editor

Hypertension and Liver Unit, Section of General Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
Interests: liver diseases; NAFLD; metabolic syndrome; cardiovascular complication in liver disease
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an important health care problem worldwide. It affects 30% of adults in the general population, 70% of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and all patients with obesity. Importantly, NAFLD is now the second most frequent indication for liver transplantation in the United States. In the last several decades, it has become evident that NAFLD is not only associated with serious liver-related complications, but also with relevant metabolic, cardiovascular, and renal complications. Although the pathogenesis of NAFLD is complex, it was established that NAFLD is strongly linked to insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, and T2DM. Based on this evidence, in 2020, some authors have proposed the change of the terminology from NAFLD to metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), as well as an update of the definition of this fatty liver disease. Regardless of terminology used, however, it is clearly evident that NAFLD/MAFLD is a dynamic disease, characterized by many factors that change over time. In this regard, specific phenotypes of NAFLD/MAFLD may be broadly driven by environmental factors, genetic predisposition, or metabolic factors.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Molecular Sciences will focus on recent developments in the area of NAFLD/MAFLD pathogenesis and treatment, as well as new insights into the mechanisms and therapies for NAFLD/MAFLD. It will cover a selection of recent research topics and current review articles in the field of NAFLD/MAFLD. Experimental papers, up-to-date review articles, and commentaries are all welcome.

Dr. Alessandro Mantovani
Guest Editor
Dr. Andrea Dalbeni
Co-Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD)
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Fatty liver
Cardiovascular disease

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

4 pages, 185 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Recent Developments in NAFLD

by Alessandro Mantovani and Andrea Dalbeni

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(5), 2882; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23052882 - 07 Mar 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2042

Abstract

The aim of our Special Edition, entitled “Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease: New Insights”, is to point out recent developments in the area of NAFLD pathogenesis and treatment [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease: New Insights)

Research

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18 pages, 2180 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Central Corticotropin-Releasing Factor on Hepatic Lipid Metabolism and Inflammation-Related Gene Expression in Rats

by Yukiomi Nakade, Rena Kitano, Taeko Yamauchi, Satoshi Kimoto, Kazumasa Sakamoto, Tadahisa Inoue, Yuji Kobayashi, Tomohiko Ohashi, Yoshio Sumida, Kiyoaki Ito and Masashi Yoneda

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(8), 3940; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22083940 - 11 Apr 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2064

Abstract

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in the brain acts on physiological and pathophysiological modulation of the hepatobiliary system. Central CRF administration aggravates experimental acute liver injury by decreasing hepatic blood flow. Conversely, minimal evidence is available regarding the effect of centrally acting CRF on hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammation. We examined whether central CRF affects hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammation-related gene expression in rats. Male Long Evans rats were intracisternally injected with CRF (10 μg) or saline. Rats were sacrificed 2 h, 6 h, and 24 h after the CRF injection, the liver was isolated, and mRNA was extracted. Next, hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammation-related gene expression were examined. Hepatic SREBF1 (sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1) mRNA levels were significantly increased 6 h and 24 h after intracisternal CRF administration when compared with those in the control group. Hepatic TNFα and IL1β mRNA levels increased significantly 6 h after intracisternal CRF administration. Hepatic sympathectomy or guanethidine treatment, not hepatic branch vagotomy or atropine treatment, inhibited central CRF-induced increase in hepatic SREBF1, TNFα and IL1β mRNA levels. These results indicated that central CRF affects hepatic de novo lipogenesis and inflammation-related gene expression through the sympathetic-noradrenergic nervous system in rats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease: New Insights)

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11 pages, 3165 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hepatic Senescence Accompanies the Development of NAFLD in Non-Aged Mice Independently of Obesity

by Ioannis I. Moustakas, Angeliki Katsarou, Aigli-Ioanna Legaki, Iryna Pyrina, Konstantinos Ntostoglou, Alkistis-Maria Papatheodoridi, Bettina Gercken, Ioannis S. Pateras, Vassilis G. Gorgoulis, Michael Koutsilieris, Triantafyllos Chavakis and Antonios Chatzigeorgiou

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(7), 3446; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22073446 - 26 Mar 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3350

Abstract

Senescence is considered to be a cardinal player in several chronic inflammatory and metabolic pathologies. The two dominant mechanisms of senescence include replicative senescence, predominantly depending on age-induced telomere shortening, and stress-induced senescence, triggered by external or intracellular harmful stimuli. Recent data indicate that hepatocyte senescence is involved in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, previous studies have mainly focused on age-related senescence during NAFLD, in the presence or absence of obesity, while information about whether the phenomenon is characterized by replicative or stress-induced senescence, especially in non-aged organisms, is scarce. Herein, we subjected young mice to two different diet-induced NAFLD models which differed in the presence of obesity. In both models, liver fat accumulation and increased hepatic mRNA expression of steatosis-related genes were accompanied by hepatic senescence, indicated by the increased expression of senescence-associated genes and the presence of a robust hybrid histo-/immunochemical senescence-specific staining in the liver. Surprisingly, telomere length and global DNA methylation did not differ between the steatotic and the control livers, while malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative stress, was upregulated in the mouse NAFLD livers. These findings suggest that senescence accompanies NAFLD emergence, even in non-aged organisms, and highlight the role of stress-induced senescence during steatosis development independently of obesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease: New Insights)

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15 pages, 1725 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Adrenergic Agonists on High-Fat Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis in Mice

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(24), 9392; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21249392 - 10 Dec 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2453

Abstract

The autonomic nervous system, consisting of sympathetic and parasympathetic branches, plays an important role in regulating metabolic homeostasis. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) regulates hepatic lipid metabolism by regulating adrenergic receptor activation, resulting in the stimulation of hepatic very-low-density lipoprotein-triglyceride (TG) production in vivo. However, only a few studies on the relationship between SNS and hepatic steatosis have been reported. Here, we investigate the effect of adrenergic receptor agonists on hepatic steatosis in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). The α-adrenergic receptor agonist phenylephrine (10 mg/kg/d) or the β-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol (30 mg/kg/d) was coadministered with HFD to male mice. After five weeks, hepatic steatosis, TG levels, and hepatic fat metabolism-related biomarkers were examined. HFD treatment induced hepatic steatosis, and cotreatment with phenylephrine, but not isoproterenol, attenuated this effect. Phenylephrine administration upregulated the mRNA levels of hepatic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and its target genes (such as carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1) and increased hepatic β-hydroxybutyrate levels. Additionally, phenylephrine treatment increased the expression of the autophagosomal marker LC3-II but decreased that of p62, which is selectively degraded during autophagy. These results indicate that phenylephrine inhibits hepatic steatosis through stimulation of β-oxidation and autophagy in the liver. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease: New Insights)

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14 pages, 14440 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Two-Week Isocaloric Time-Restricted Feeding Decreases Liver Inflammation without Significant Weight Loss in Obese Mice with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

by Rachel B. Wilson, Richard Zhang, Yun Jin Chen, Kia M. Peters, Cynthia G. Sawyez, Brian G. Sutherland, Krisha Patel, John P. Kennelly, Kelly-Ann Leonard, René L. Jacobs, Rennian Wang and Nica M. Borradaile

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(23), 9156; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21239156 - 01 Dec 2020

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3575

Abstract

Prolonged, isocaloric, time-restricted feeding (TRF) protocols can promote weight loss, improve metabolic dysregulation, and mitigate non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In addition, 3-day, severe caloric restriction can improve liver metabolism and glucose homeostasis prior to significant weight loss. Thus, we hypothesized that short-term, isocaloric TRF would improve NAFLD and characteristics of metabolic syndrome in diet-induced obese male mice. After 26 weeks of ad libitum access to western diet, mice either continued feeding ad libitum or were provided with access to the same quantity of western diet for 8 h daily, over the course of two weeks. Remarkably, this short-term TRF protocol modestly decreased liver tissue inflammation in the absence of changes in body weight or epidydimal fat mass. There were no changes in hepatic lipid accumulation or other characteristics of NAFLD. We observed no changes in liver lipid metabolism-related gene expression, despite increased plasma free fatty acids and decreased plasma triglycerides in the TRF group. However, liver Grp78 and Txnip expression were decreased with TRF suggesting hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and activation of inflammatory pathways may have been diminished. We conclude that two-week, isocaloric TRF can potentially decrease liver inflammation, without significant weight loss or reductions in hepatic steatosis, in obese mice with NAFLD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease: New Insights)

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16 pages, 25241 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Histone H3K9 Demethylase JMJD2B Plays a Role in LXRα-Dependent Lipogenesis

by Ji-Hyun Kim, Dae Young Jung, Hye-Ran Kim and Myeong Ho Jung

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(21), 8313; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21218313 - 05 Nov 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2669

Abstract

Ligand-activated liver X receptor α (LXRα) upregulates the expression of hepatic lipogenic genes, which leads to triglyceride (TG) accumulation, resulting in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Thus, LXRα regulation may provide a novel therapeutic target against NAFLD. However, histone methylation-mediated epigenetic regulation involved in LXRα-dependent lipogenesis is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the functional role of the histone demethylase Jumonji domain-containing protein 2B (JMJD2B) in LXRα-dependent lipogenesis. JMJD2B expression level was upregulated in HepG2 cells treated with LXRα agonist T0901317 or palmitate and the liver of mice administered with T0901317 or fed a high-fat diet. Knockdown of JMJD2B using siRNA abrogated T0901317-induced LXRα-dependent lipogenic gene expression and lowered intracellular TG accumulation. Conversely, overexpression of JMJD2B in HepG2 cells upregulated the expression of LXRα-dependent lipogenic genes, in line with increased intracellular TG levels. JMJD2B overexpression or T0901317 treatment induced the recruitment of JMJD2B and LXRα to LXR response elements (LXRE) in the promoter region of LXRα-target gene and reduced the enrichment of H3K9me2 and H3K9me3 in the vicinity of the LXRE. Furthermore, JMJD2B enhanced T0901317 or LXRα-induced transcriptional activities of reporters containing LXRE. A co-immunoprecipitation assay revealed that JMJD2B interacted with activated LXRα. Moreover, overexpression of JMJD2B in mice resulted in upregulation of hepatic LXRα-dependent lipogenic genes, consistent with development of hepatic steatosis. Taken together, these results indicate that JMJD2B plays a role in LXRα-mediated lipogenesis via removing the repressive histone marks, H3K9me2 and H3K9me3, at LXRE, which might contribute to hepatic steatosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease: New Insights)

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Review

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29 pages, 3439 KiB

Open AccessReview

Flame Retardants-Mediated Interferon Signaling in the Pathogenesis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

by Chander K. Negi, Sabbir Khan, Hubert Dirven, Lola Bajard and Luděk Bláha

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(8), 4282; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22084282 - 20 Apr 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4741

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing concern worldwide, affecting 25% of the global population. NAFLD is a multifactorial disease with a broad spectrum of pathology includes steatosis, which gradually progresses to a more severe condition such as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, cirrhosis, and eventually leads to hepatic cancer. Several risk factors, including exposure to environmental toxicants, are involved in the development and progression of NAFLD. Environmental factors may promote the development and progression of NAFLD by various biological alterations, including mitochondrial dysfunction, reactive oxygen species production, nuclear receptors dysregulation, and interference in inflammatory and immune-mediated signaling. Moreover, environmental contaminants can influence immune responses by impairing the immune system’s components and, ultimately, disease susceptibility. Flame retardants (FRs) are anthropogenic chemicals or mixtures that are being used to inhibit or delay the spread of fire. FRs have been employed in several household and outdoor products; therefore, human exposure is unavoidable. In this review, we summarized the potential mechanisms of FRs-associated immune and inflammatory signaling and their possible contribution to the development and progression of NAFLD, with an emphasis on FRs-mediated interferon signaling. Knowledge gaps are identified, and emerging pharmacotherapeutic molecules targeting the immune and inflammatory signaling for NAFLD are also discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease: New Insights)

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19 pages, 995 KiB

Open AccessReview

Relationship between NAFLD and Periodontal Disease from the View of Clinical and Basic Research, and Immunological Response

by Masahiro Hatasa, Sumiko Yoshida, Hirokazu Takahashi, Kenichi Tanaka, Yoshihito Kubotsu, Yujin Ohsugi, Takaharu Katagiri, Takanori Iwata and Sayaka Katagiri

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(7), 3728; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22073728 - 02 Apr 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3750

Abstract

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory disease caused by pathogenic oral microorganisms that leads to the destruction of alveolar bone and connective tissues around the teeth. Although many studies have shown that periodontal disease is a risk factor for systemic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and periodontal disease has not yet been clarified. Thus, the purpose of this review was to reveal the relationship between NAFLD and periodontal disease based on epidemiological studies, basic research, and immunology. Many cross-sectional and prospective epidemiological studies have indicated that periodontal disease is a risk factor for NAFLD. An in vivo animal model revealed that infection with periodontopathic bacteria accelerates the progression of NAFLD accompanied by enhanced steatosis. Moreover, the detection of periodontopathic bacteria in the liver may demonstrate that the bacteria have a direct impact on NAFLD. Furthermore, Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide induces inflammation and accumulation of intracellular lipids in hepatocytes. Th17 may be a key molecule for explaining the relationship between periodontal disease and NAFLD. In this review, we attempted to establish that oral health is essential for systemic health, especially in patients with NAFLD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease: New Insights)

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25 pages, 2014 KiB

Open AccessReview

Treatments for NAFLD: State of Art

by Alessandro Mantovani and Andrea Dalbeni

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2021, 22(5), 2350; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22052350 - 26 Feb 2021

Cited by 103 | Viewed by 10379

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is to date the most common chronic liver disease in clinical practice and, consequently, a major health problem worldwide. It affects approximately 30% of adults in the general population and up to 70% of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Despite the current knowledge of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and natural history of NAFLD, no specific pharmacological therapies are until now approved for this disease and, consequently, general strategies have been proposed to manage it. They include: (a) lifestyle change in order to promote weight loss by diet and physical activity, (b) control of the main cardiometabolic risk factors, (c) correction of all modifiable risk factors leading the development and progression of advanced forms of NAFLD, and (d) prevention of hepatic and extra-hepatic complications. In the last decade, several potential agents have been widely investigated for the treatment of NAFLD and its advanced forms—shedding some light but casting a few shadows. They include some glucose-lowering drugs (such as pioglitazone, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors), antioxidants (such as vitamin E), statins or other lipid lowering agents, bile and non-bile acid farnesoid X activated receptor (FXR) agonists, and others. This narrative review discusses in detail the different available approaches with the potential to prevent and treat NAFLD and its advanced forms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease: New Insights)

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