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World J Hepatol. Jun 27, 2023; 15(6): 786-796
Published online Jun 27, 2023. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v15.i6.786
Role of vascular endothelial growth factor B in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its potential value
Yu-Qi Li, Lei Xin, Yu-Chi Zhao, Shang-Qi Li, Ya-Nuo Li
Yu-Qi Li, Ya-Nuo Li, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264000, Shandong Province, China
Lei Xin, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai 264000, Shandong Province, China
Yu-Chi Zhao, Department of Surgery, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai 264000, Shandong Province, China
Shang-Qi Li, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264000, Shandong, China, Yantai 264000, Shandong Province, China
Author contributions: Li YQ prepared and drafted the manuscript; Xin L made the critical revision; Zhao YC edited the manuscript; Li SQ collected the literature review; Li YN approved the final version.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Ya-Nuo Li, PhD, Professor, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, No. 346 Guanhai Road, Laishan District, Yantai 264000, Shandong Province, China. liyanuo@bzmc.edu.cn
Received: March 6, 2023
Peer-review started: March 6, 2023
First decision: April 12, 2023
Revised: April 27, 2023
Accepted: May 9, 2023
Article in press: May 9, 2023
Published online: June 27, 2023
Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to fatty liver disease caused by liver injury factors other than alcohol. The disease is characterized by diffuse fat infiltration, including simple steatosis (no inflammatory fat deposition), nonalcoholic fatty hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and so on, which may cause liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer in the later stage of disease progression. At present, the pathogenesis of NAFLD is still being studied. The "two-hit" theory, represented by lipid metabolism disorder and inflammatory reactions, is gradually enriched by the "multiple-hit" theory, which includes multiple factors, such as insulin resistance and adipocyte dysfunction. In recent years, vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB) has been reported to have the potential to regulate lipid metabolism and is expected to become a novel target for ameliorating metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. This review summarizes the regulatory role of VEGFB in the onset and development of NAFLD and illustrates its underlying molecular mechanism. In conclusion, the signaling pathway mediated by VEGFB in the liver may provide an innovative approach to the diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD.

Keywords: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, Vascular endothelial growth factor B, "Two-hit" theory, "Multiple-hit" theory, Obesity

Core Tip: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease with lipid accumulation caused by liver injury factors except alcohol. At present, vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB) has been reported to play a special role in regulating lipid metabolism and improving the onset and development of NAFLD. Therefore, the use of VEGFB as a target for treatment has become the focus of current research. This review summarizes the role and potential mechanism of VEGFB in the pathogenesis of NAFLD to provide a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of NAFLD.