[The role of adipokines and insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease]

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) develops in 17-33% of the population of developed countries. The incidence of NAFLD is constantly growing due to the increasing prevalence of obesity. It is estimated that one third of subjects with NAFLD suffer from nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and 15% of them develop liver cirrhosis within a five-year period. In recent years this important complication of obesity became the subject of numerous studies. It, the pathogenesis of NAFLD is still unclear. A key role in the development of this disease was attributed to insulin resistance. Hormones and cytokines produced by adipose tissue called adipokines may be a link between obesity, insulin resistance, and NAFLD. However, it is well known that increased levels of adipokines such as TNF-alpha, IL-6, and resistin and a decreased level of adiponectin augment inflammation in the liver. Further studies are necessary to explain the roles of leptin, visfatin, retinol binding protein-4, omentin, and vaspin in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. The aim this paper is to introduce new areas of study on the pathogenesis of NAFLD.