Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease establishment and progression: genetics and epigenetics as relevant modulators of the pathology

Abstract

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) results from metabolic dysfunctions that affect more than one-third of the world population. Over the last decades, scientific investigations have clarified many details on the pathology establishment and development; however, effective therapeutics approaches are still evasive. In addition, studies demonstrated that NAFLD establishment and progression are related to several etiologies. Recently, genetics and epigenetics backgrounds have emerged as relevant elements to the pathology onset, and, hence, deserve deep investigation to clarify molecular details on NAFLD signaling, which may be correlated with population behavior. Thus, to minimize the global problem, public health and public policies should take advantage of studies on NAFLD over the next following decades.

Methods

In this context, we have performed a selective literature review focusing on biochemistry of lipid metabolism, genetics, epigenetics, and the ethnicity as strong elements that drive NAFLD establishment.

Results

Considering the etiological agents that acts on NAFLD development and progression, the genetics and the epigenetics emerged as relevant factors. Genetics acts as a powerful element in the establishment and progression of the NAFLD. Over the last decades, details concerning genes and their polymorphisms, as well as epigenetics, have been considered relevant elements in the systems biology of diseases, and their effects on NAFLD should be considered in-depth, as well as the ethnicity, clarifying whether people are susceptible to liver diseases. Moreover, the endemicity and social problems of hepatic disfunction are far to be solved, which require a combined effort of various sectors of society.

Conclusion

Hence, the elements presented and discussed in this short review demonstrated their relevance to the physiological control of NAFLD, opening perspectives for research to develop new strategy to treat fatty liver diseases.

Keywords:

• Liver disease
• genetics and epigenetics of the steatosis
• metabolism and molecular connections
• ethnicity and diseases
• public health

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Silva, C. M. for manuscript critical reading.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by research grant from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo [FAPESP − 2018/05286-3; 2022-06302-8], CAPES and PIBIC-CNPq scholarships.