非酒精性脂肪性肝病的表观遗传学研究进展

Advances in epigenetics of nonalcoholic fatty liver desease

非酒精性脂肪性肝病(nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,NAFLD)是一种从相对良性的肝脏脂肪变性到非酒精性的脂肪性肝炎(nonalcoholic steatohepatitis,NASH)的代谢性肝病。NASH以持续性肝损伤、炎症和肝纤维化为特征,并显著地增加了肝硬化和肝细胞癌等终末期肝病的风险。目前关于NAFLD/NASH的发病机制仍不明确,但是近来该病在表观遗传学领域的研究进展给该病的发病机制提供了新的视角。本文综述了该领域近来的研究进展,为阐明NAFLD的发病机制奠定了坚实的基础,并为该病的早发现、早诊断、早治疗提供了潜在的靶点。

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a metabolic liver disease that ranges from relatively benign hepatic steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH).NASH is characterized by persistent liver damage,inflammation,and fibrosis which significantly increases the risk of end-stage liver diseases,such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.The pathogenesis of NAFLD/NASH is not yet fully understood,but its recent epigenetic advances have provided new insights into the mechanisms of this disease.This review summarized recent progress in this area which has laid a solid foundation for elucidating the pathogenesis of NAFLD and provides potential targets for early detection,diagnosis,and treatment of this disease.