Molecular Mechanisms and Mediators of Hepatotoxicity Resulting from an Excess of Lipids and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

The paper reviews some of the mechanisms implicated in hepatotoxicity, which is induced by an excess of lipids. The paper spans a wide variety of topics: from the molecular mechanisms of excess lipids, to the therapy of hyperlipidemia, to the hepatotoxicity of lipid-lowering drugs. NAFLD is currently the leading cause of chronic liver disease in Western countries; the molecular mechanisms leading to NAFLD are only partially understood and there are no effective therapeutic interventions. The prevalence of liver disease is constantly increasing in industrialized countries due to a number of lifestyle variables, including excessive caloric intake, unbalanced diet, lack of physical activity, and abuse of hepatotoxic medicines. Considering the important functions of cell death and inflammation in the etiology of the majority, if not all, liver diseases, one efficient therapeutic treatment may include the administration of hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory drugs, either alone or in combination. Clinical trials are currently being conducted in cohorts of patients with different liver diseases in order to explore this theory.