Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Clinical Associations of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Pancreas Disease

Overview

Journal Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2024 Jan 29

PMID 38283640

Authors

Antonia Pagkali

Anastasios Makris

Kalliopi Brofidi

Aris P Agouridis

Theodosios D Filippatos

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Pancreas disease (NAFPD), characterized by fat accumulation in pancreatic tissue, is an emerging clinical entity. However, the clinical associations, the underlying molecular drivers, and the pathophysiological mechanisms of NAFPD have not yet been characterized in detail. The NAFPD spectrum not only includes infiltration and accumulation of fat within and between pancreatic cells but also involves several inflammatory processes, dysregulation of physiological metabolic pathways, and hormonal defects. A deeper understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms is key to correlate NAFPD with clinical entities including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, as well as pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis. The aim of this review is to examine the pathophysiological mechanisms of NAFPD and to assess the possible causative/predictive risk factors of NAFPD-related clinical syndromes.

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