Zonal expression of StARD1 and oxidative stress in alcoholic-related liver disease

Mitochondrial quality control in alcohol-associated liver disease

Excessive alcohol consumption is a leading cause of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), a significant global health concern with limited therapeutic options. Understanding the key factors contributing to ALD pathogenesis is crucial for identifying potential therapeutic targets. Central to ALD pathogenesis is the intricate interplay between alcohol metabolism and cellular processes, particularly involving mitochondria. Mitochondria are essential organelles in the liver, critical for energy production and metabolic functions. However, they are particularly vulnerable to alcohol-induced damage due to their involvement in alcohol metabolism. Alcohol disrupts mitochondrial function, impairing ATP production and triggering oxidative stress, which leads to cellular damage and inflammation. Mitochondrial quality control mechanisms, including biogenesis, dynamics, and mitophagy, are crucial for maintaining optimal mitochondrial function. Chronic alcohol consumption disrupts mitochondrial quality control checkpoints, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction that impairs fatty acid oxidation and contributes to hepatic steatosis in ALD. Moreover, alcohol promotes the accumulation of damaged mitochondria and the release of proinflammatory components, exacerbating liver damage and inflammation. Preserving mitochondrial health presents a promising therapeutic approach to mitigate ALD progression. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the effects of alcohol on mitochondrial function and quality control mechanisms, highlighting their role in ALD pathogenesis. Understanding these mechanisms may pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic interventions for ALD.

Mitochondria and Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease: Pathogenic Role and Target for Therapy

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) is one of the leading causes of chronic liver disease and a major cause of liver-related death. ALD is a multifactorial disease triggered by the oxidative metabolism of alcohol which leads to the activation of multiple factors that promote the progression from steatosis to more advanced stages like alcohol-associated steatohepatitis (AH) that culminate in alcohol-associated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Poor understanding of the complex heterogeneous pathology of ALD has limited drug development for this disease. Alterations in mitochondrial performance are considered a crucial event in paving the progression of ALD due to the crucial role of mitochondria in energy production, intermediate metabolism, calcium homeostasis, and cell fate decisions. Therefore, understanding the role of mitochondria in eliciting steatosis and progression toward AH may open the door to new opportunities for treatment. In this review, we will cover the physiological function of mitochondria, its contribution to ALD in experimental models and human disease, and explore whether targeting mitochondria may represent a game changer in the treatment of ALD.

Roadmap to DILI research in Europe. A proposal from COST action ProEuroDILINet

In the current article the aims for a constructive way forward in Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI) are to highlight the most important priorities in research and clinical science, therefore supporting a more informed, focused, and better funded future for European DILI research. This Roadmap aims to identify key challenges, define a shared vision across all stakeholders for the opportunities to overcome these challenges and propose a high-quality research program to achieve progress on the prediction, prevention, diagnosis and management of this condition and impact on healthcare practice in the field of DILI. This will involve 1. Creation of a database encompassing optimised case report form for prospectively identified DILI cases with well-characterised controls with competing diagnoses, biological samples, and imaging data; 2. Establishing of preclinical models to improve the assessment and prediction of hepatotoxicity in humans to guide future drug safety testing; 3. Emphasis on implementation science and 4. Enhanced collaboration between drug-developers, clinicians and regulatory scientists. This proposed operational framework will advance DILI research and may bring together basic, applied, translational and clinical research in DILI.