ROS correlates intimately with the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease to hepatocarcinoma

Abstract

The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is rapidly increasing. NAFLD affects the health of one-third of the world’s population in forms that range from simple steatosis to hepatocellular injury, inflammation, fibrosis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. Oxidative stress in the progression of NAFLD to hepatocarcinoma is gaining increasing attention. Sustained and excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), which lead to oxidative stress, are involved in all pathophysiological stages of NAFLD and contribute to the occurrence of hepatocarcinoma. Antioxidants in natural plant extracts that activate nuclear factor related to E2 factor 2 (Nrf2) can effectively suppress the progression. The cellular anti-oxidative system has great importance in the prevention and reversal of NAFLD. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the involvement of oxidative stress in NAFLD to hepatocarcinoma.