Reduced lipoapoptosis, hedgehog pathway activation and fibrosis in caspase-2 deficient mice with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Conclusions These data point to a critical role for caspase-2 in lipid-induced hepatocyte apoptosis in vivo for the production of apoptosis-associated fibrogenic factors and in the progression of lipid-induced liver fibrosis. This raises the intriguing possibility that caspase-2 may be a promising therapeutic target to prevent progression to NASH.

http://gut.bmj.com/cgi/content/short/64/7/1148?rss=1

Source: Gut - June 9, 2015 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Machado, M. V., Michelotti, G. A., Pereira, T. d. A., Boursier, J., Kruger, L., Swiderska-Syn, M., Karaca, G., Xie, G., Guy, C. D., Bohinc, B., Lindblom, K. R., Johnson, E., Kornbluth, S., Diehl, A. M. Tags: Cirrhosis, Nonalcoholic steatosis Hepatology Source Type: research