Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 3, 2025

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy
07:20

Exploring the Regulation of Lipid Droplet Catabolism through Lipophagy

Published on: January 31, 2025

638

Cell Autophagy in NASH and NASH-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Utibe-Abasi S Udoh1,2, Pradeep Kumar Rajan1,2, Yuto Nakafuku1,2

  • 1Department of Surgery, Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Huntington, WV 25701, USA.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 27, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Autophagy, a cellular process, is crucial for maintaining cell health. Impaired autophagy contributes to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver cancer development.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Autophagy is a fundamental cellular process for degrading damaged components and maintaining homeostasis.
  • Dysregulation of autophagy is linked to various diseases, including neurodegeneration, cancer, and aging.
  • Reduced autophagic activity is implicated in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an overview of mammalian autophagy.
  • To explore the role of autophagy in the pathogenesis of NASH.
  • To discuss the involvement of autophagy in NASH-related HCC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of autophagy mechanisms.
  • Analysis of studies investigating autophagy in NAFLD and NASH.
  • Synthesis of current research on autophagy's role in HCC development.

Main Results:

  • Autophagy acts as a critical cellular quality control mechanism.
  • Decreased autophagy promotes steatosis and inflammation in the liver, driving NASH progression.
  • Autophagy modulation is a potential therapeutic target for NASH and HCC.

Conclusions:

  • Autophagy plays a significant role in liver homeostasis and disease.
  • Understanding autophagy's function in NASH is vital for developing targeted therapies.
  • Further research into autophagy pathways could lead to novel treatments for liver diseases.
Keywords:
NASHNASH-related HCCcell autophagy

More Related Videos

Assessing Autophagic Flux by Measuring LC3, p62, and LAMP1 Co-localization Using Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry11:39

Assessing Autophagic Flux by Measuring LC3, p62, and LAMP1 Co-localization Using Multispectral Imaging Flow Cytometry

Published on: July 21, 2017

31.5K
Isolation of Regenerating Hepatocytes after Partial Hepatectomy in Mice10:04

Isolation of Regenerating Hepatocytes after Partial Hepatectomy in Mice

Published on: December 2, 2022

4.7K

Related Concept Videos

Autophagy01:27

Autophagy

Autophagy is a self-digesting process by which a cell protects itself from threats both within and outside the cell, ranging from abnormal proteins to invading bacteria. In this process, obsolete components of the cell and invading microbes are degraded by hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment of the lysosomal lumen.
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
4.6K
Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and...
3.5K
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome01:36

Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome

Eukaryotic cells use different mechanisms to eliminate toxic waste obsolete and worn-out substances. Lysosomes play a pivotal role in this, and hence, these substances are carried to the lysosome from other parts of the cell and extracellular space through different pathways. The most elaborately studied pathways to the lysosome are the endocytic pathways.
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
6.7K
Liver Regeneration01:24

Liver Regeneration

The liver is an important organ in vertebrates that plays an essential role in metabolism. It is also responsible for storing and redistributing nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins in the body. Additionally, the liver releases bile salts which are critical for digesting food and eliminating toxic metabolites from the body.
Cells of Liver
The liver comprises four major types of cells— hepatocytes, stellate, Kupffer, and sinusoidal endothelial cells. The hepatocytes are...
3.4K
Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells01:17

Phagocytosis of Apoptotic Cells

Cells undergoing apoptosis form apoptotic bodies that must be removed immediately to prevent inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and necrosis. Phagocytosis is carried out by professional phagocytes such as macrophages or  immature dendritic cells. Non-professional phagocytes such as  epithelial cells and fibroblasts also take part in this process; however, they are not as effective as professional phagocytes. 
Normal cells contain receptors that prevent them from being recognized...
4.0K
Lysosomal Hydrolases01:22

Lysosomal Hydrolases

Lysosomes are the site for the degradation of macromolecules and biological polymers released during membrane trafficking events such as secretory, endocytic, autophagic, and phagocytic pathways. The membrane-enclosed area of the lysosome, called the lumen, contains hydrolytic enzymes active in an acidic environment. These acid hydrolases are functional at a pH between 4.5 and 5 and are involved in cellular processes such as cell signaling, energy metabolism, restoration of the plasma membrane,...
3.9K