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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2014; 20(27): 9038-9049
Published online Jul 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i27.9038
Published online Jul 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i27.9038
Translational approaches: From fatty liver to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
Natalia Rosso, Claudio Tiribelli, Stefano Bellentani, Norberto C Chavez-Tapia, Fondazione Italiana Fegato, 34149 Trieste, Italy
Norberto C Chavez-Tapia, Obesity and Digestive Diseases Unit, Médica Sur Clinic and Foundation, Mexico 14050, México
Claudio Tiribelli, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, 34149 Trieste, Italy
Stefano Bellentani, Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, Azienda USL di Modena, Ospedale “Ramazzini”, 41012 Carpi (Modena), Italy
Author contributions: Rosso N planned the research of the most relevant papers, reviewed the contents and wrote this work; Chavez-Tapia NC contributed to the research and the analysis of the available in vitro models; Bellentani S contributed to the study of the epidemiological data and revised the final version of the paper; Tiribelli C and Bellentani S contributed with the correction of the work and participated in the analysis of the contents of the present study; Tiribelli C edited the text.
Supported by European Union Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement, No. Health-F2-2009-241762, for the project FLIP; Italian National Grant MIUR (Art.13 D.LGS 297/99 - Progetto Nutrizione e Salute); and an in house grant from Fondazione Italiana Fegato, ONLUS
Correspondence to: Stefano Bellentani, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy, Azienda USL di Modena, Ospedale “Ramazzini”, Via Guido Molinari, 41012 Carpi (Modena), Italy. bellentanistefano@gmail.com
Telephone: +39-59-371102 Fax: +39-40-3757832
Received: October 21, 2013
Revised: March 3, 2014
Accepted: April 21, 2014
Published online: July 21, 2014
Processing time: 272 Days and 22.3 Hours
Revised: March 3, 2014
Accepted: April 21, 2014
Published online: July 21, 2014
Processing time: 272 Days and 22.3 Hours
Core Tip
Core tip: The molecular mechanism associated with the accumulation of fatty acids in the liver cells and the resulting molecular cascade leading to hepatic damage is far from being understood. Due to the development of reliable in vitro and in vivo models, we are starting to open the “black box”. This will lead to a better understanding of the active clinical condition and hopefully to a more effective treatment. This article critically reviews what is known and what has still to be discovered about the link between the accumulation of fat within the liver and the resulting damage.