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©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 7, 2008; 14(1): 22-28
Published online Jan 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.22
Published online Jan 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.22
Role of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors in the pathogenesis and treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Eric R Kallwitz, Scott J Cotler, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago, United States
Alan McLachlan, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois, Chicago, United States
Correspondence to: Eric R Kallwitz, MD, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, 840 S Wood Street, 7th Floor, MC 716, Chicago, Il 60612, United States kallwitz@uic.edu
Telephone: +1-312-9966651
Fax: +1-312-9961334
Received: September 5, 2007
Revised: October 19, 2007
Published online: January 7, 2008
Revised: October 19, 2007
Published online: January 7, 2008
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is highly prevalent and can result in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and progressive liver disease including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. A growing body of literature implicates the peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors (PPARs) in the pathogenesis and treatment of NAFLD. These nuclear hormone receptors impact on hepatic triglyceride accumulation and insulin resistance. The aim of this review is to describe the data linking PPARα and PPARγ to NAFLD/NASH and to discuss the use of PPAR ligands for the treatment of NASH.
Keywords: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Peroxisome proliferators-activated receptors, Insulin resistance, Metabolic syndrome, Pharmacologic ligands