Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Mouse Model of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease with Fibrosis
06:26

Mouse Model of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease with Fibrosis

Published on: July 18, 2025

Fibrosis and Perinatal Features Correlated with Telomere Shortening in Pediatric Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated

Maria Rita Braghini1, Salvatore Daniele Bianco2, Marzia Bianchi1

  • 1Research Unit of Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy.

Life (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 28, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is linked to shorter telomere length (TL). Shorter TL correlates with advanced liver disease and fibrosis, suggesting telomere dynamics may influence pediatric MASLD progression.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Hepatology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is rising in children.
  • Telomere maintenance dysregulation is a suspected driver of MASLD progression, but pediatric data is scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between telomere length (TL) and hepato-metabolic characteristics in pediatric MASLD patients.
  • To investigate the relationship between TL, disease severity, and perinatal factors in children with MASLD.

Main Methods:

  • Quantitative PCR to measure leukocyte (LTL) and liver tissue (HTL) telomere length.
  • Assessed telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) mRNA and protein expression.
  • Analyzed associations between TL and clinical, metabolic, and perinatal variables in 212 pediatric MASLD patients and 40 controls.

Main Results:

  • Children with MASLD exhibited significantly shorter LTL and HTL compared to controls.
  • Shorter LTL was associated with advanced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (MASH) and liver fibrosis.
  • Reduced TERT expression was noted in MASLD patients, and LTL correlated with perinatal factors like preterm birth and low birthweight.

Conclusions:

  • Leukocyte telomere length is significantly associated with disease severity, particularly fibrosis, in pediatric MASLD.
  • Findings suggest a role for telomere dynamics in pediatric MASLD progression, warranting further longitudinal investigation.
  • Shorter LTL independently correlated with MASH, fibrosis, and small-for-gestational-age status.

Keywords:
MASHMASLDchildrenfibrosistelomeres

More Related Videos

Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis05:56

Implementation of Non-invasive Point of Care Transient Elastography for Evaluation of Liver Disease in Pediatric Populations with Cystic Fibrosis

Published on: August 29, 2025

Optimized Analysis of In Vivo and In Vitro Hepatic Steatosis08:58

Optimized Analysis of In Vivo and In Vitro Hepatic Steatosis

Published on: March 11, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology01:24

Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology

Cirrhosis is a progressive chronic liver injury caused by prolonged inflammation, excessive fibrotic remodeling, and impaired regeneration. Over time, repeated hepatic insults disrupt the liver’s architecture and function, leading to reduced blood flow, impaired bile drainage, and diminished metabolic capacity.Pathophysiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis arises from three main responses to chronic liver damage: inflammation, immune activation, and hepatocyte death. These processes lead to structural...
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
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 large...