Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease progression and current research

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is clearly shown hepatic metabolic syndrome. It represents histopathological abnormalities which range from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) which eventually leads to fibrosis then cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The buildup of toxic free fatty acids and mobilization of free fatty acid from adipose tissue and de novo hepatic fatty acid synthesis from glucose is denoted at the “first-hit”for NAFLD development. NAFLD progression leads to ‘parallel, multiple fit’ injuries such as oxidative-stress-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, ER stress, TLR-4 dependent release of inflammatory cytokines, these deleterious factors trigger the number of the signalling cascade that leads to inflammation, cell death& fibrosis, these are the hallmarks of NASH. It is such a chronic liver disease that leads to liver cirrhosis,liver cancer & ultimate death. This review identifies NAFLD progression and development screening method allows clinicians to isolate high-risk NAFLD patients that require early intensive intervention.