MASH: the nexus of metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a progressive form of liver disease characterized by hepatocyte injury, inflammation, and fibrosis. The transition from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) to MASH is driven by the accumulation of toxic lipid and metabolic intermediates resulting from increased hepatic uptake of fatty acids, elevated de novo lipogenesis, and impaired mitochondrial oxidation. These changes promote hepatocyte stress and cell death, activate macrophages, and induce a fibrogenic phenotype in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Key metabolites, including saturated fatty acids, free cholesterol, ceramides, lactate, and succinate, act as paracrine signals that reinforce inflammatory and fibrotic responses across multiple liver cell types. Crosstalk between hepatocytes, macrophages, and HSCs, along with spatial shifts in mitochondrial activity, creates a feed-forward cycle of immune activation and tissue remodeling. Systemic inputs, such as insulin-resistant adipose tissue and impaired clearance of dietary lipids and branched-chain amino acids, further contribute to liver injury. Together, these pathways establish a metabolically driven network linking nutrient excess to chronic liver inflammation and fibrosis. This Review outlines how coordinated disruptions in lipid metabolism and intercellular signaling drive MASH pathogenesis and provides a framework for understanding disease progression across tissue and cellular compartments.