Researchers identify potential mechanism to control nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

FINDINGSIn a comprehensive, nine-year-long study in mice, researchers profiled more than 300 liver and plasma lipid species and more than 5,000 liver proteins. The combined data helped researchers to identify new mechanisms that control the metabolism of lipids (molecules that include fat) and to discover a protein that regulates lipids. They found that silencing one particular protein, called PSMD9, is a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.BACKGROUNDNonalcoholic fatty liver disease is the buildup of excess fat in liver cells not caused by alcohol. The disease affects about 25 percent of individuals worldwide and at least 3 million Americans are diagnosed with it every year. Risk factors for the condition include obesity, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Most people have no symptoms. Over time, inflammation and scarring of the liver (cirrhosis) can occur and could potentially require a liver transplant. Because of its significant impact on health, researchers have sought to better understand the causes of fatty liver disease, to identify a blood-based diagnostic test and to discover new targets for therapies.METHODResearchers studied 107 genetically modified mice to profile lipids and proteins in their livers. This approach allowed the researchers to test how genetics, rather than environment, accounted for differences in specific measures including blood and liver lipids.IMPACTThere is no FDA-approved treatment for fatty liver disea...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news