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Alloveda Liver Update: Effect of ethanol on lipid metabolism

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eMediNexus    25 August 2020

Hepatic lipid metabolism involves some complex processes that control influx and efflux of hepatic lipid pools as well as organismal pools. Lipid homeostasis is controlled by expression, substrate supply, oxidation and secretion which maintain relatively constant hepatic lipid pools. Any disruptions in these processes could result in lipid accumulation in the liver.

Ethanol is known to disrupt nearly all aspects of hepatic lipid metabolism. This response could partly be attributed to the huge metabolic demand that alcohol metabolism places on the organ. Additionally, it also appears to involve changes in expression and substrate supply. The most common hepatic change brought on by alcohol consumption is steatosis, or fatty liver. Overall, steatosis represents a rapid response to alcohol abuse.

 

Alcohol can have direct or indirect effects on several aspects of hepatic lipid flux, eventually resulting in lipid accumulation. Stimulation of fatty acid transporters plays a key role in alcoholic fatty liver disease. Ethanol-mediated alterations in lipin-1 are known to promote steatosis, worsen inflammation and lead to liver injury. Alcohol also induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the liver. Ethanol tends to activate de novo lipogenesis through several processes, giving way to lipid accumulation in the liver. Ethanol also appears to have a negative impact on circadian clock-mediated lipid metabolism.

Further studies are required to better understand the mechanisms by which alcohol causes steatosis. Once clearly understood, they can be used to develop targeted therapies to treat alcohol-related liver disease and prevent its progression.

Source: You M, Arteel GE.Effect of ethanol on lipid metabolism. J Hepatol. 2019;70(2):237-48.

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