Research Article Details
Article ID: | A28496 |
PMID: | 12530944 |
Source: | Curr Gastroenterol Rep |
Title: | Interaction of iron, insulin resistance, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. |
Abstract: | Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as a ubiquitous liver disorder with occasional serious overtones. Although diabetes and obesity were initially held culpable, insulin resistance (IR) is now considered the fundamental operative mechanism. IR is probably the "first step" in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Oxidative stress may be the elusive "second" of possibly multiple steps in the progression of steatosis to fibrosing steatohepatitis. Because hepatic iron promotes oxidative stress, it was mooted as a contributory cofactor in NASH. This proposal was strengthened by an association with hepatic fibrosis. Subsequent studies have shown neither a significant increase in hepatic iron nor an association between hepatic iron and any of the histologic determinants in NASH. Likewise, the increased prevalence of hemochromatosis gene (HFE) mutations in some studies appears to be largely irrelevant to the development of hepatic fibrosis. Excess hepatic iron may occur in insulin resistance-associated iron overload (IRHIO), characterized by hyperferritinemia with normal to mild increases in transferrin saturation. Although patients with IRHIO have a high prevalence of IR-related metabolic disorders, the relationship of IRHIO to NASH is unclear. A recent study showed improvement in insulin sensitivity with the use of venesection in patients with NAFLD, but this approach cannot be implemented without extensive review. |
DOI: | 10.1007/s11894-003-0005-y |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
S01 | Improve insulin resistance | insulin sensitizer; insulin resistance; glucose tolerance | Biguanide: increases 5-AMP activated protein kinase signaling; SGLT-2 inhibitor; Thiazalidinedione: selective PPAR-γ agonists; GLP-1 agonist | Metformin; Empagliflozin; Canagliflozin; Rosiglitazone; Pioglitazone; Liraglutide | Details |
S03 | Anti-fibrosis | fibrosis | Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB); CCR2/CCR5 antagonist; Thyroid receptor β agonist; PEGylated human FGF21 analogue; Monoclonal antibody to lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2); Galectin-3 inhibitor; FGF19 variant | Losartan; Cenicriviroc; VK-2809; MGL-3196; Pegbelfermin; Simtuzumab; GR-MD-02; NGM282 | Details |
S04 | Anti-oxidative stress | oxidative stress | α-tocopherol: antioxidant | Vitamin E | Details |
Target ID | Target Name | GENE | Action | Class | UniProtKB ID | Entry Name |
---|
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
I05 | 9352 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus | A diabetes that is characterized by chronic hyperglycaemia with disturbances of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. A diabetes mellitus that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus_type_2 | disease of metabolism/inherited metabolic disorder/ carbohydrate metabolic disorder/glucose metabolism disease/diabetes/ diabetes mellitus | Details |
I14 | 9970 | Obesity | An overnutrition that is characterized by excess body fat, traditionally defined as an elevated ratio of weight to height (specifically 30 kilograms per meter squared), has_material_basis_in a multifactorial etiology related to excess nutrition intake, decreased caloric utilization, and genetic susceptibility, and possibly medications and certain disorders of metabolism, endocrine function, and mental illness. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obesity | disease of metabolism/acquired metabolic disease/ nutrition disease/overnutrition | Details |
Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D545 | Pig placenta extract | Biological extract | -- | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D182 | Insulin | Biological drug | DB00030 | INSR agonist; CPE modulator&product of | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |