Role of Angiotensin II in Non-Alcoholic Steatosis Development

Arch Med Res. 2024 Apr;55(3):102986. doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2024.102986. Epub 2024 Mar 15.

Abstract

Fatty liver is a multifactorial disease characterized by excessive accumulation of lipids in hepatocytes (steatosis), insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation. This disease has a major public health impact because it is the first stage of a chronic and degenerative process in the liver that can lead to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Although this disease is mainly diagnosed in patients with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, recent evidence indicates that vasoactive hormones such as angiotensin II (ANGII) not only promote endothelial dysfunction (ED) and hypertension, but also cause fatty liver, increase adipose tissue, and develop a pro-steatotic environment characterized by a low-grade systemic pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant state, with elevated blood lipid levels. The role of ANGII in lipid accumulation has been little studied, so this review aims to summarize existing reports on the possible mechanism of action of ANGII in inducing lipid accumulation in hepatocytes.

Keywords: Angiotensin II; Fatty liver; Hepatocyte dysfunction; Lipogenesis de novo, Endothelial dysfunction; Steatosis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2* / complications
  • Humans
  • Lipids
  • Liver
  • Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / etiology

Substances

  • Angiotensin II
  • Lipids
  • AGT protein, human