Lessons from mouse models of high-fat diet-induced NAFLD.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to investigate the causal relationships between high-fat diet-induced obesity/diabetes and the development of NASH and liver tumorigenesis in mice.
Results Summary
The study found that long-term high-fat diet loading induced obesity, insulin resistance, NASH, and liver tumorigenesis in C57BL/6J mice, suggesting a potential link between high-fat diets and liver disease progression.
Population
C57BL/6J mice
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Long-term (exact duration not specified)
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
high-fat diet | increase | hepatic steatosis and NASH | experimental animals | - | can induce | #1 |
long-term high-fat diet loading | increase | obesity and insulin resistance | C57BL/6J mice | - | can induce | #2 |
long-term high-fat diet loading | increase | NASH and liver tumorigenesis | C57BL/6J mice | - | can also induce | #3 |
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a clinicopathologic spectrum of diseases ranging from isolated hepatic steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the more aggressive form of fatty liver disease that may progress to cirrhosis and cirrhosis-related complications, including hepatocellular carcinoma. The prevalence of NAFLD, including NASH, is also increasing in parallel with the growing epidemics of obesity and diabetes. However, the causal relationships between obesity and/or diabetes and NASH or liver tumorigenesis have not yet been clearly elucidated. Animal models of NAFLD/NASH provide crucial information, not only for elucidating the pathogenesis of NAFLD/NASH, but also for examining therapeutic effects of various agents. A high-fat diet is widely used to produce hepatic steatosis and NASH in experimental animals. Several studies, including our own, have shown that long-term high-fat diet loading, which can induce obesity and insulin resistance, can also induce NASH and liver tumorigenesis in C57BL/6J mice. In this article, we discuss the pathophysiology of and treatment strategies for NAFLD and subsequent NAFLD-related complications such as NASH and liver tumorigenesis, mainly based on lessons learned from mouse models of high-fat diet-induced NAFLD/NASH.