Role of p62/SQSTM1 in liver physiology and pathogenesis

p62/sequestosome-1/A170/ZIP (hereafter referred to as p62) is a scaffold protein that has multiple functions, such as signal transduction, cell proliferation, cell survival, cell death, inflammation, tumourigenesis and oxidative stress response. While p62 is an autophagy substrate and is degraded by autophagy, p62 serves as an autophagy receptor for selective autophagic clearance of protein aggregates and organelles. Moreover, p62 functions as a signalling hub for various signalling pathways, including NF-κB, Nrf2 and mTOR. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiological role of p62 in the liver, including formation of hepatic inclusion bodies, cholestasis, obesity, insulin resistance, liver cell death and tumourigenesis.