scholarly journals DNA Methylation in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (21) ◽  
pp. 8138
Author(s):  
Jeongeun Hyun ◽  
Youngmi Jung
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hepatic Disorder ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver ◽  
End Stage ◽  
Affect Gene Expression

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a widespread hepatic disorder in the United States and other Westernized countries. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), an advanced stage of NAFLD, can progress to end-stage liver disease, including cirrhosis and liver cancer. Poor understanding of mechanisms underlying NAFLD progression from simple steatosis to NASH has limited the development of effective therapies and biomarkers. An accumulating body of studies has suggested the importance of DNA methylation, which plays pivotal roles in NAFLD pathogenesis. DNA methylation signatures that can affect gene expression are influenced by environmental and lifestyle experiences such as diet, obesity, and physical activity and are reversible. Hence, DNA methylation signatures and modifiers in NAFLD may provide the basis for developing biomarkers indicating the onset and progression of NAFLD and therapeutics for NAFLD. Herein, we review an update on the recent findings in DNA methylation signatures and their roles in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and broaden people’s perspectives on potential DNA methylation-related treatments and biomarkers for NAFLD.

scholarly journals Gene Expression and DNA Methylation Alterations in the Glycine N-Methyltransferase Gene in Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Associated Carcinogenesis

2019 ◽  
Vol 170 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Borowa-Mazgaj ◽  
Aline de Conti ◽  
Volodymyr Tryndyak ◽  
Colleen R Steward ◽  
Leandro Jimenez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Animal Model ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Down Regulation ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver

Abstract Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming a major etiological risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States and other Western countries. In this study, we investigated the role of gene-specific promoter cytosine DNA methylation and gene expression alterations in the development of NAFLD-associated HCC in mice using (1) a diet-induced animal model of NAFLD, (2) a Stelic Animal Model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-derived HCC, and (3) a choline- and folate-deficient (CFD) diet (CFD model). We found that the development of NAFLD and its progression to HCC was characterized by down-regulation of glycine N-methyltransferase (Gnmt) and this was mediated by progressive Gnmt promoter cytosine DNA hypermethylation. Using a panel of genetically diverse inbred mice, we observed that Gnmt down-regulation was an early event in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and correlated with the extent of the NAFLD-like liver injury. Reduced GNMT expression was also found in human HCC tissue and liver cancer cell lines. In in vitro experiments, we demonstrated that one of the consequences of GNMT inhibition was an increase in genome methylation facilitated by an elevated level of S-adenosyl-L-methionine. Overall, our findings suggest that reduced Gnmt expression caused by promoter hypermethylation is one of the key molecular events in the development of NAFLD-derived HCC and that assessing Gnmt methylation level may be useful for disease stratification.

scholarly journals Potential Mechanisms Influencing the Inverse Relationship Between Cannabis and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Commentary

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 117863881984748 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pratima Dibba ◽  
Andrew A Li ◽  
George Cholankeril ◽  
Muhammad Ali Khan ◽  
Donghee Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Inverse Relationship ◽  
Cannabinoid Receptors ◽  
Endocannabinoid System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Inverse Association ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) develops when the liver is unable to oxidize or export excess free fatty acids generated by adipose tissue lipolysis, de novo lipogenesis, or dietary intake. Although treatment has generally been centered on reversing metabolic risk factors that increase the likelihood of NAFLD by influencing lifestyle modifications, therapeutic modalities are being studied at the cellular and molecular level. The endocannabinoid system has been of recent focus. The agonism and antagonism of cannabinoid receptors play roles in biochemical mechanisms involved in the development or regression of NAFLD. Exocannabinoids and endocannabinoids, the ligands which bind cannabinoid receptors, have been studied in this regard. Exocannabinoids found in cannabis (marijuana) may have a therapeutic benefit. Our recent study demonstrated an inverse association between marijuana use and NAFLD among adults in the United States. This commentary combines knowledge on the role of the endocannabinoid system in the setting of NAFLD with the findings in our article to hypothesize different potential mechanisms that may influence the inverse relationship between cannabis and NAFLD.

1146 The Use of Liver Biopsy to Determine the Severity of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Children Across the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 114 (1) ◽  
pp. S643-S643
Author(s):  
Johanna M. Ascher Bartlett ◽  
Helena Luz Gutierrez Sanchez ◽  
Mohammad Nasser Kabbany ◽  
Naveen Mittal ◽  
Jay Shah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Liver Disease ◽  
Liver Biopsy ◽  
Fatty Liver ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
Fatty Liver Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver
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