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There is clear evidence that public health measures to reduce alcohol consumption are effective, which can have a positive effect on alcohol-related liver disease. In this Perspective, Parker and colleagues discuss public health policies that affect alcohol consumption and alcohol-related liver disease.

The recently released UK Chief Medical Officers Alcohol Guidelines Review set up new restricted limitations in alcohol consumption—14 units, the same amount for both men and women. In parallel, the popular Dry January campaign was launched again, aimed at promoting prolonged abstinence. Are these campaigns enough to give up boozing?

Hepatic stellate cells regulate hepatocyte functions via R-spondin 3.

Various methods screen for alcohol consumption in patients with alcoholic liver disease. However, each test has its own limitations. The feasibility of the methanol test for identifying recent alcohol consumption in liver transplant candidates has been investigated. New studies are required to optimize the best strategy in these patients.

CRIg is expressed on liver macrophages and binds Gram-positive bacteria to mediate phagocytosis, but it is not clear how its phagocytic functions contribute to liver homeostasis or disease. Here the authors report that ethanol impairs hepatic clearance of translocated pathobionts, via decreased hepatic CRIg, which facilitates progression of alcoholic liver disease.

Alcoholic hepatitis, a common cause of liver failure, lacks effective treatment. Here, the authors show altered hepatic HNF4a isoform expression and hypermethylation of its target genes in patients. HNF4a dysregulation is improved in vitro by TGFb or PPARg modulation suggesting potential therapeutic avenues.

Despite its high prevalence worldwide, alcoholic liver disease (ALD) has attracted little attention in the past two decades. Abstinence has been the most effective therapy, but targeted therapies are required for severe forms. Novel potential therapeutic targets have been identified, but their pathogenetic roles remain unknown. This Review summarizes the epidemiology, risk factors and current knowledge of ALD, including discussion of new therapeutic targets.

A new study demonstrates a novel role for an endocannabinoid in promoting hepatocyte steatosis. The study describes a mode of bidirectional communication between the alcohol-injured hepatocyte and the glutamate-activated hepatic stellate cell. This intercellular communication represents a novel targetable pathogenic mechanism that could lead to new strategies to prevent fatty liver disease progression to cirrhosis.

Alcoholic hepatitis is characterized by intense liver inflammation driven by excessive cytokines and chemokines production and immune cell infiltration. Here the authors identify a super-enhancer that regulates the expression of multiple CXCL chemokines in alcoholic hepatitis and may be a potential therapeutic target.

In patients with alcoholic hepatitis, cytolysin-positive Enterococcus faecalis strains are correlated with liver disease severity and increased mortality, and in mouse models these strains can be specifically targeted by bacteriophages.

Díaz et al. estimate the prevalence of steatotic liver disease (SLD) in adults in the United States. Increased waist circumference, excess weight, abnormal glucose metabolism, and hypertension are associated with a higher risk of advanced fibrosis in SLD, with sex, hispanic ethnicity and lack of health insurance associated with certain types.

In 2022, we witnessed advances in the field of alcohol-related liver disease. Key developments included the discovery of novel proteomics-based biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets that regulate the recognition of molecules derived from gut microbiota to modulate liver injury. Additionally, there have been significant advances in refining selection for liver transplantation in severe alcohol-associated hepatitis.

Alcohol-associated liver disease is the main cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality globally. This Consensus Statement makes recommendations for the design, best practice and conduct of clinical trials to evaluate the effects of alcohol use in alcohol-associated liver disease and alcohol use disorder.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), a primary cause of chronic liver disease (CLD), often leads to advanced CLD stages such as cirrhosis. This Roadmap summarizes the current landscape and challenges of MASH-related compensated cirrhosis clinical trials and explores a way forward for future studies.

EMT is a developmental process that is aberrantly activated in metastasizing cancer cells, but how multiple transcription factors regulate EMT is unclear. Here, the authors uncover a gene regulatory network between Prrx1 and Snail1 that selects EMT mode in developing vertebrates and cancer cells.

In this Review, Arab and colleagues discuss management of alcohol use disorder in patients with alcohol-associated liver disease, particularly in the setting of liver transplantation. An integrative, multidisciplinary approach is proposed.

In this Review, Arrese and colleagues discuss the intersection of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and alcohol-related liver disease, including their pathophysiology, clinical management and suggestions for future research.

Alcoholic liver disease refers to a spectrum of disorders that are caused by chronic alcohol consumption. This Primer covers the epidemiology, mechanisms, diagnosis and management of alcoholic liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a potentially serious liver disease with a substantial burden worldwide. In this Consensus Statement, a global multidisciplinary group of experts develop consensus statements and recommendations addressing a broad range of topics on NAFLD to raise awareness and spur action.