Endoplasmic reticulum stress and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease / 国际药学研究杂志

ABSTRACT

The“two-hit”theory which underlies the mechanism of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is difficult to explain the progress of NAFLD from liver lipid accumulation to steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis and the gradually aggravated diseases.Recently the“multiple-hit”theory emphasizes the significance of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) in the progression of NAFLD. The endoplasmic reticulum is a cytoplasmic organella for protein and lipid synthesis. ERS, which can be induced by the unbalance of endoplasmic reticulum homeostasis, plays a critical role in hepatocyte lipid metabolic disorders, Apoptosis and the progression of NAFLD. In this paper, the relevance of ERS and non-alcoholic liver lipid accumulation, steatohepatitis and hepatocyte apoptosis is reviewed.