Document Detail


Obesity affects the liver - the link between adipocytes and hepatocytes.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21042023     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The incidence of obesity has dramatically increased in recent years. Consequently, obesity and associated disorders such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) constitute a serious threat. Therefore, the contribution of visceral adipose tissue to metabolic homeostasis has become a focus of interest. Visceral adipose tissue secretes free fatty acids (FFAs) and hormones, known as adipokines, and thus seems to play a major role in the development of NAFLD. Apoptotic cell death is a prominent feature in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Indeed, toxic FFAs can activate the intrinsic apoptosis pathway in hepatocytes via c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). JNK activates the proapoptotic protein Bim, resulting in Bax activation and enhanced apoptosis, termed 'lipoapoptosis'. Reduced adiponectin levels may establish a proinflammatory milieu, thus increasing vulnerability to lipotoxicity, which promotes progression from simple steatosis to NASH and even advanced hepatic fibrosis. Moreover, obesity seems to be a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma, the most frequent liver cancer subtype. Even in acute liver failure, a high body mass index is associated with poor outcome, and recent data suggest a major role of obesity in the progression of chronic hepatitis C and B. This review summarizes current knowledge - highlighting the inflammatory and cytokine view - of the intimate relationship between adipose and liver tissue.
Authors:
Alexander Wree; Alisan Kahraman; Guido Gerken; Ali Canbay
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review     Date:  2010-11-01
Journal Detail:
Title:  Digestion     Volume:  83     ISSN:  1421-9867     ISO Abbreviation:  Digestion     Publication Date:  2011  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-11-22     Completed Date:  2011-03-31     Revised Date:  2011-11-14    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0150472     Medline TA:  Digestion     Country:  Switzerland    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  124-33     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Affiliation:
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Duisburg-Essen, University Clinic Essen, Essen, Germany.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adipocytes*
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / epidemiology
Fatty Liver / complications,  pathology
Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications
Hepatocytes*
Humans
Intra-Abdominal Fat / pathology*
Liver Failure, Acute / complications
Liver Neoplasms / epidemiology
Obesity / complications*,  pathology
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Digestion. 2011;84(3):185-6   [PMID:  21625138 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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