Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in the Pathogenesis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Overview

Journal World J Gastroenterol

Publisher Baishideng Publishing Group

Specialty Gastroenterology

Date 2014 Mar 4

PMID 24587654

Citations 118

Authors

Xue-Qun Zhang

Cheng-Fu Xu

Chao-Hui Yu

Wei-Xing Chen

You-Ming Li

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a common public health problem in recent decades. However, the underlying mechanisms leading to the development of NAFLD are not fully understood. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response has recently been proposed to play a crucial role in both the development of steatosis and progression to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. ER stress is activated to regulate protein synthesis and restore homeostatic equilibrium when the cell is stressed due to the accumulation of unfolded or misfolded proteins. However, delayed or insufficient responses to ER stress may turn physiological mechanisms into pathological consequences, including fat accumulation, insulin resistance, inflammation, and apoptosis, all of which play important roles in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Therefore, understanding the role of ER stress in the pathogenesis of NAFLD has become a topic of intense investigation. This review highlights the recent findings linking ER stress signaling pathways to the pathogenesis of NAFLD.

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