Insulin-like growth factors (IGF-I and -II): new actors in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting 20–30% of adults and 3–10% of children in Western countries. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is considered to be multifactorial and factors such as insulin resistance, intrahepatic fat accumulation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial alterations, and stellate cell activation appear to substantially contribute to the development and progression of the disease. In this Editorial, we highlight some evidence suggesting a close link between NAFLD and growth hormone (GH)–IGF (insulin-like growth factor) axis.

Keywords::

• children
• cytokines
• fatty liver
• GH therapy
• IGFs

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.