Summary
This 2023 narrative review in Cell Metabolism examines hepatokines—proteins secreted by the liver—as emerging mechanistic drivers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The authors synthesise evidence linking dysregulated hepatokine signalling to impaired hepatic lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and cardiometabolic disease risk. The work positions hepatokine pathways as potential therapeutic targets for NAFLD prevention and intervention.
Regional applicability
The mechanistic findings are applicable across populations, including the United Kingdom, given NAFLD prevalence in high-income nations with energy-dense food environments. The identified hepatokine pathways may inform future drug development and personalised metabolic risk assessment, though clinical translation remains nascent.
Key measures
Hepatokine expression and signalling pathways; their association with hepatic lipid accumulation, insulin sensitivity, and systemic metabolic dysfunction.
Outcomes reported
The review synthesises evidence on hepatokine secretion and signalling as mechanistic mediators of NAFLD pathogenesis. It examines the role of dysregulated hepatokine pathways in lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and cardiometabolic comorbidities.
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