Update on the STING Signaling Pathway in Developing Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Wei Liu; Zhili Zhang Chen; Chenhui Yang; Yaofu Fan; Liang Qiao; Shaofeng Xie; Lin Cao

doi:10.14218/JCTH.2023.00197

Update on the STING Signaling Pathway in Developing Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

J Clin Transl Hepatol. 2024 Jan 28;12(1):91-99. doi: 10.14218/JCTH.2023.00197. Epub 2023 Sep 28.

Authors

Wei Liu¹, Zhili Zhang Chen¹, Chenhui Yang¹, Yaofu Fan^{1

2}, Liang Qiao¹, Shaofeng Xie^{1

2}, Lin Cao^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
² Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent chronic liver condition with limited treatment options. Inflammation caused by metabolic disturbances plays a significant role in NAFLD development. Stimulator of interferon gene (STING), a critical regulator of innate immunity, induces the production of interferons and other pro-inflammatory factors by recognizing cytoplasmic DNA to defend against pathogen infection. The STING-mediated signaling pathway appears to play a vital role in hepatic inflammation, metabolic disorders, and even carcinogenesis. Promisingly, pharmacological interventions targeting STING have shown improvements in the pathological state of NAFLD. Macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, and T cell pathways regulated by STING present potential novel druggable targets for NAFLD treatment. Further research and development in this area may offer new therapeutic options for managing NAFLD effectively.

Keywords: Innate immunity; Macrophage; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Stimulator of interferon gene.

Publication types

Review