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Xu X, Poulsen KL, Wu L, Liu S, Miyata T, Song Q, Wei Q, Zhao C, Lin C, Yang J. Targeted therapeutics and novel signaling pathways in non-alcohol-associated fatty liver/steatohepatitis (NAFL/NASH). Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:287. [PMID: 35963848 PMCID: PMC9376100 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01119-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcohol-associated fatty liver/steatohepatitis (NAFL/NASH) has become the leading cause of liver disease worldwide. NASH, an advanced form of NAFL, can be progressive and more susceptible to developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Currently, lifestyle interventions are the most essential and effective strategies for preventing and controlling NAFL without the development of fibrosis. While there are still limited appropriate drugs specifically to treat NAFL/NASH, growing progress is being seen in elucidating the pathogenesis and identifying therapeutic targets. In this review, we discussed recent developments in etiology and prospective therapeutic targets, as well as pharmacological candidates in pre/clinical trials and patents, with a focus on diabetes, hepatic lipid metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis. Importantly, growing evidence elucidates that the disruption of the gut-liver axis and microbe-derived metabolites drive the pathogenesis of NAFL/NASH. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) act as a signaling mediator, resulting in lipid accumulation, macrophage and hepatic stellate cell activation, further promoting inflammation and liver fibrosis progression during the development of NAFL/NASH. Targeting gut microbiota or EVs may serve as new strategies for the treatment of NAFL/NASH. Finally, other mechanisms, such as cell therapy and genetic approaches, also have enormous therapeutic potential. Incorporating drugs with different mechanisms and personalized medicine may improve the efficacy to better benefit patients with NAFL/NASH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohan Xu
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
| | - Kyle L Poulsen
- Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lijuan Wu
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Innovation Center of Marine Drug Screening & Evaluation, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Shan Liu
- Innovation Center of Marine Drug Screening & Evaluation, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Tatsunori Miyata
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Qiaoling Song
- Innovation Center of Marine Drug Screening & Evaluation, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Qingda Wei
- School of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chenyang Zhao
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
- Innovation Center of Marine Drug Screening & Evaluation, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China
| | - Chunhua Lin
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Jinbo Yang
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China.
- Innovation Center of Marine Drug Screening & Evaluation, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China.
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