Recent advances in biomarkers for noninvasive diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: the role of lipid analysis/ profiling

Abstract

Abnormalities of lipid metabolism may be involved in hepatic steatosis, which is a prerequisite for development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. In fact, most of the published literature has focused on triglyceride accumulation as the key defect in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Fat accumulation in the liver may be due to the excessive uptake of free fatty acids, increased liver lipogenesis, the impairment of fat disposal (as there is decreased β- and ω-oxidation of free fatty acids), and the decreased secretion of VLDL. The composition of lipids that accumulate in the livers of subjects with NAFLD are not well characterized, however, a number of recent studies have investigated the lipid profile in the livers and plasma of patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Several findings suggest that the altered lipid profiles may be important in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, whereas others emphasize that lipid alterations are an adaptive response to protect the liver against lipotoxicity. Interesting...