Molecular mechanisms of hepatic insulin resistance in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and potential treatment strategies

Chang-Hua Zhang; Bu-Gao Zhou; Jun-Qing Sheng; Yang Chen; Ying-Qian Cao; Chen Chen

doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104984

Molecular mechanisms of hepatic insulin resistance in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and potential treatment strategies

Pharmacol Res. 2020 Sep:159:104984. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104984. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Authors

Chang-Hua Zhang¹, Bu-Gao Zhou², Jun-Qing Sheng³, Yang Chen⁴, Ying-Qian Cao¹, Chen Chen⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330004, PR China.
² Scientific and Technical Research Management Department, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330004, PR China.
³ College of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, PR China.
⁴ School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
⁵ School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. Electronic address: chen.chen@uq.edu.au.

PMID: 32502637
DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104984

Abstract

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the general population is estimated at 25 %, and there is currently no effective treatment of NAFLD. Although insulin resistance (IR) is not the only factor causing the pathogenesis of NAFLD, hepatic IR has a cause-effective relationship with NAFLD. Improving hepatic IR is a potential therapeutic strategy to treat NAFLD. This review highlights the molecular mechanisms of hepatic IR in the development of NAFLD. Available data on potential drugs including glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1) agonists, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR-γ/α/δ) agonists, farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonists, etc. are carefully discussed.

Keywords: Hepatic insulin resistance; Molecular mechanism; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Treatment strategy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / adverse effects
Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
Humans
Hypoglycemic Agents / adverse effects
Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
Insulin Resistance*
Lipid Droplets / drug effects*
Lipid Droplets / metabolism
Lipid Metabolism / drug effects
Liver / drug effects*
Liver / metabolism
Liver / physiopathology
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / drug therapy*
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / metabolism
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / physiopathology

Substances

Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Hypoglycemic Agents
Inflammation Mediators