VITA for NAFLD PROJECT

FRRB Project 1749055 - A very innovative therapeutic approach for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its complications

PROJECT SUMMARY

Non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis (NAFLD), defined as the manifestation of hepatic metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes, is the most common liver disease in western countries and is characterized by fat liver. It can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis and even liver cancer. The current approach is based on changes in diet and lifestyle, however targeted drug therapies and biomarkers predictive of NAFLD development / progression are lacking. It has recently been shown that the inactivation of Suv420h metitransferases is able to prevent obesity in mice kept on a high fat diet and the same phenotype is present in animal models with high hepcidin (the hormone regulating iron homeostasis). Also, recent studies suggest a genetic (and epigenetic) control of both iron and lipid metabolis. The aim of the project is to investigate the correlation between lipid and iron metabolism to understand novel mechanisms that lead to the onset of NAFDL in order to prevent and treat this pathology.