Abstract
Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is characterized by hepatic steatosis accompanied by one of three features: overweight or obesity, T2DM, or lean or normal weight with evidence of metabolic dysregulation. It is distinguished by excessive fat accumulation in hepatocytes, and a decrease in the liver's ability to oxidize fats, the accumulation of ectopic fat, and the activation of proinflammatory pathways. Chronic damage will keep this pathophysiologic cycle active causing progression from hepatic steatosis to cirrhosis and eventually, hepatocarcinoma. Epigenetics affecting gene expression without altering DNA sequence allows us to study MAFLD pathophysiology from a different perspective, in which DNA methylation processes, histone modifications, and miRNAs expression have been closely associated with MAFLD progression. However, these considerations also faced us with the circumstance that modifying those epigenetics patterns might lead to MAFLD regression. Currently, epigenetics is an area of great interest because it could provide new insights in therapeutic targets and non-invasive biomarkers. This review comprises an update on the role of epigenetic patterns, as well as innovative therapeutic targets and biomarkers in MAFLD.
Highlights
Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is characterized by hepatic steatosis accompanied by one of three features: overweight or obesity, T2DM, or lean or normal weight with evidence of metabolic dysregulation [1].MAFLD, as with the previous term NAFLD, represents the hepatic manifestation of a multisystem disorder, whose incidence is 20–30% in the western countries [2]
Epigenetic modifications in DNA and histone have been studied as essential mechanisms that modify the development of liver diseases including MAFLD
The dysregulation of epigenetic modifications has a critical role in MAFLD progression since it regulates the expression and activity of various genes implicated in lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, DNA repair, and inflammatory process that enhance the pathogenesis of MAFLD [10, 131]
Summary
Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is characterized by hepatic steatosis accompanied by one of three features: overweight or obesity, T2DM, or lean or normal weight with evidence of metabolic dysregulation [1].MAFLD, as with the previous term NAFLD, represents the hepatic manifestation of a multisystem disorder, whose incidence is 20–30% in the western countries [2].
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