Ammonia: A novel target for the treatment of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of liver diseases ranging from steatosis, through non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to cirrhosis. The development of fibrosis is the most important factor contributing to NASH-associated morbidity and mortality. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are responsible for extracellular matrix deposition in conditions of frank hepatocellular injury and are key cells involved in the development of fibrosis. In experimental models and patients with NASH, urea cycle enzyme gene and protein expression is reduced resulting in functional reduction in the in vivo capacity for ureagenesis and subsequent hyperammonemia at a pre-cirrhotic stage.

Source: Medical Hypotheses - February 15, 2018 Category: Biomedical Science Authors: Karen Louise Thomsen, Francesco De Chiara, Krista Rombouts, Hendrik Vilstrup, Fausto Andreola, Rajeshwar P. Mookerjee, Rajiv Jalan Source Type: research