Miguel-Angel Barrios-Maya, Angélica Ruiz-Ramírez and Mohammed El-Hafidi* Pages 401 - 420 ( 20 )
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disorder characterized by an ectopic accumulation of lipids in at least 5% of hepatocytes. The first phase of the disease, called hepatic steatosis, progresses over time to chronic conditions, such as steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and finally, hepatic insufficiency and cancer. The accumulation of free fatty acids in hepatocytes, particularly saturated fatty acids, is a key process in the development and progression of NAFLD. Furthermore, the accumulation of oxidative stress markers in NAFLD is closely linked to lipotoxicity due to impaired lipid metabolism and increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, endogenous mechanisms are activated early in the liver to protect against lipotoxicity and oxidative stress, thus preventing liver mass loss and disease progression. Thus, in order to develop appropriate therapies, the purpose of this review is to discuss recent data from the literature regarding the importance of intrinsic mechanisms deployed by the liver in protecting itself against the adverse effects related to chronic lipid accumulation and ROS generation.
Antioxidant enzymes, Free fatty acids, Lipotoxicity, NAFLD, Oxidative stress, metabolic disorder.
Depto. de Biomedicina Cardiovascular, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano No 1, Colonia Sección XVI, Tlalpan, CP 14080, C.D. México, Depto. de Biomedicina Cardiovascular, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano No 1, Colonia Sección XVI, Tlalpan, CP 14080, C.D. México, Depto de Biomedicina Cardiovascular, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano No 1, Colonia Sección XVI, Tlalpan 14080, Ciudad de México