The age-related genes cause an iron-dependent type of cell death called ferroptosis.The main focus of the study is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), also known as “metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)”. It causes cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver’s main cells, hepatocytes, and can lead eventually to organ failure.After identifying a cluster of genes that affect the aging of cells in mice, the researchers examined cells collected from humans who had obesity and NAFLD/ MASLD. They found the same genetic signature, suggesting a target for pharmacological therapy.
To confirm their hypothesis, the researchers caused a group of 3-month-old young mice, and one of 2-year-old mice to develop NAFLD/ MASLD via diet.Some of the older mice also received Ferrostatin-1 injections while continuing to be fed the NAFLD/ MASLD-inducing diet. This was so that the researchers could test the potential therapeutic effects of the drug on aging livers.
The authors of the new study hope that their findings will lead to therapies for NAFLD/ MASLD. They also found that “these genes are similarly upregulated in a variety of human tissues afflicted by disease and aging, including the liver, heart, kidneys, and the pancreatic tissue affected by diabetes.
Aging exacerbates nonalcoholic liver disease by creating ferroptic stress.These pathways offer a variety of potential targets for therapeutic intervention.NAFLD/ MASLD is a common liver disease, affecting about one in three adults worldwide. It is also the most common form of liver disease in children.Children with [NAFLD/ MASLD] may experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, typically centered in or on the upper right part of the abdomen, and fatigue.
Physical examinations of children might reveal slight liver enlargement and some children and young adults could have patchy, dark skin discoloration (acanthosis nigricans), usually around the neck and underarms.
NAFLD/ MASLD may be diagnosed in a blood test that shows abnormally high levels of liver enzymes. Blood tests, however, often fail to pick up the condition’s presence. This liver condition is frequently discovered incidentally during abdominal imaging procedures, such as ultrasounds or CT scans, that are initially performed for unrelated issues, revealing fatty infiltration of liver cells. There is no direct treatment for NAFLD/ MASLD, although maintaining a healthy diet and weight may slow its progression.
