What Is Fatty Liver Disease and Why Is It a Concern?
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common problem affecting people who are overweight or obese. Unlike alcohol-related liver issues, NAFLD is caused by the buildup of too much fat in the liver.
It can lead to more severe conditions like fatty hepatitis and cirrhosis, both of which are serious liver diseases. Despite how common it is, finding effective treatments for NAFLD has been challenging.
A Breakthrough in Understanding NAFLD
A team of researchers, led by Professors Jang Hyun Choi and Sung Ho Park, has made a significant discovery that could lead to new ways of treating NAFLD.
The team found that a protein called Thrap3, which is linked to thyroid hormones, plays a big role in making NAFLD worse.
This protein affects another protein, known as AMPK, which helps control how fat is processed in the liver.
When Thrap3 interferes with AMPK, it makes it harder for the liver to break down fats and cholesterol. In simple terms, Thrap3 acts like a roadblock that prevents the liver from doing its job in breaking down fats.
How the Study Was Conducted and What It Means
The researchers used rats for their experiments. They found that when they reduced the amount of Thrap3, the rats’ livers got better at processing fats.
This is a crucial discovery, as it shows that targeting Thrap3 could be a new way to treat NAFLD effectively.
Professor Choi said, “We’ve had a hard time finding good treatments for fatty liver disease. Our discovery gives us a new and effective way to address this widespread condition.”
The study also showed that reducing the Thrap3 levels improved another liver problem called non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. This is an inflammatory liver condition that often occurs in people with fatty liver.
The Road Ahead
This breakthrough could pave the way for new treatments for fatty liver disease. While the study was carried out on rats, the next steps could include testing these findings on humans.
If successful, we might be looking at a powerful new way to treat a common and challenging health condition.
In summary, this research shines a light on how a specific protein can contribute to fatty liver disease.
By understanding this, we can now explore new treatments that could dramatically improve the lives of those suffering from this condition.
If you care about liver health, please read studies about Scientists find an important cause of fatty liver disease and findings of Healthy liver, happy life: new advice for keeping your liver in top shape.
For more information about liver health, please read studies about a diet that can treat fatty liver disease and obesity, and coffee drinkers may halve their risk of liver cancer.
The research findings can be found in Experimental & Molecular Medicine.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
