The Role of Epigenetics in the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Title:The Role of Epigenetics in the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Volume: 15 Issue: 14

Author(s): Nancy Edith Aguilar-Olivos, Jesús Oria-Hernández, Guadalupe Ponciano-Rodríguez, Norberto Carlos Chávez-Tapia, Misael Uribe and Nahum Méndez-Sánchez

Affiliation:

Keywords: Biological markers, disease progression, DNA methylation, histones, liver, microRNAs, one-carbon metabolism.

Abstract: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease encompasses a spectrum of pathologies ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis have increased risk of cirrhosis, liver failure and hepatocellular carcinoma. About 25% of subjects with simple steatosis progress to steatohepatitis; nowadays, the detailed pathological factors influencing the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease remains unclear. It is proposed that genetic and environmental factors interact to determine the disease phenotype. Epigenetics could explain some relationships between genes and external influences. The epigenetic changes that have been related to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are DNA methylation, onecarbon metabolism, histone modifications and the presence of micro-RNA. DNA methylation and micro-RNAs have been investigated in human samples, whereas histone modifications have only been studied until now in animal and cellular models. The aim of this study is to review the most relevant information about epigenetic changes in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Cite this article as:

Aguilar-Olivos Edith Nancy, Oria-Hernández Jesús, Ponciano-Rodríguez Guadalupe, Chávez-Tapia Carlos Norberto, Uribe Misael and Méndez-Sánchez Nahum, The Role of Epigenetics in the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 2015; 15 (14) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389557515666150709115702