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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2014; 20(36): 12908-12933
Published online Sep 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i36.12908
New advances in molecular mechanisms and emerging therapeutic targets in alcoholic liver diseases
Jessica A Williams, Sharon Manley, Wen-Xing Ding
Jessica A Williams, Sharon Manley, Wen-Xing Ding, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, United States
Author contributions: All Authors contributed to writing this review.
Supported by NIAAA funds R01 AA020518 and National Center for Research Resources No. 5P20RR021940 and No. T32 ES007079; Williams JA and Manley S are recipients of the Biomedical Research Training Program Fellowship from University of Kansas Medical Center
Correspondence to: Wen-Xing Ding, PhD, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutics, The University of Kansas Medical Center, MS 1018 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160, United States. wxding@kumc.edu
Telephone: +1-913-5889813 Fax: +1-913-5887501
Received: December 17, 2013
Revised: March 7, 2014
Accepted: April 15, 2014
Published online: September 28, 2014
Processing time: 288 Days and 12.8 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Alcoholic liver disease is a major health problem worldwide. Significant progress has been made to understand key events and molecular players for the onset and progression of alcoholic liver disease. This review summarizes the recent progress on animal models used to study alcoholic liver disease and the detrimental factors that contribute to alcoholic liver disease pathogenesis including miRNAs, S-adenosylmethionine, zinc deficiency, cytosolic lipin-1β, IRF3-mediated apoptosis, RIP3-mediated necrosis and hepcidin. In addition, we summarize emerging adaptive protective effects induced by alcohol to attenuate alcohol-induced liver pathogenesis including FoxO3, IL-22, autophagy and nuclear lipin-1α.