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Novel In Vivo Micro-Computed Tomography Imaging Techniques for Assessing the Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
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Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Lipids and Insulin Resistance
Paul D Berk1, Elizabeth C Verna2
1Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, 650 West 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, USA; Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Medical Center, William Black Building, 650 West 168 Street, Room 1006, Box 57A, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Abstract:
Obesity and its major comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obesity cardiomyopathy, and certain cancers, have caused life expectancy in the United States to decline in recent years. Obesity is the increased accumulation of triglycerides (TG), which are synthesized from glycerol and long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) throughout the body. LCFA enter adipocytes, hepatocytes, and cardiomyocytes via specific, facilitated transport processes. Metabolism of increased cellular TG content in obesity may lead to comorbidities such as NAFLD and cardiomyopathy. Better understanding of LCFA transport processes may lead to successful treatment of obesity and NAFLD.
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