Cellular protein markers, therapeutics, and drug delivery strategies in the treatment of diabetes-associated liver fibrosis

• Published in: Advanced drug delivery reviews Vol. 174; pp. 127 - 139
• Main Authors: Lin, Chien-Yu, Adhikary, Pratik, Cheng, Kun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.07.2021
• Subjects: Animals; Biomarker; Biomarkers - metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - etiology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - prevention & control; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Disease Progression; Drug Delivery Systems; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Liver Cirrhosis - diagnosis; Liver Cirrhosis - drug therapy; Liver Cirrhosis - etiology; Liver fibrosis; Liver Neoplasms - etiology; Liver Neoplasms - prevention & control; NAFLD; Nanoparticles; Obesity; Patient Acuity; Risk Factors; Type 2 diabetes; Type 2 diabetes; Nanoparticles; Obesity; NAFLD; Biomarker; Liver fibrosis
• ISSN: 0169-409X; 1872-8294; 1872-8294
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.04.008

[Display omitted] Liver fibrosis is the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix due to chronic injuries, such as viral infection, alcohol abuse, high-fat diet, and toxins. Liver fibrosis is reversible before it progresses to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Type 2 diabetes significantly increases the risk of developing various complications including liver diseases. Abundant evidence suggests that type 2 diabetes and liver diseases are bidirectionally associated. Patients with type 2 diabetes experience more severe symptoms and accelerated progression of live diseases. Obesity and insulin resistance resulting from hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia are regarded as the two major risk factors that link type 2 diabetes and liver fibrosis. This review summarizes possible mechanisms of the association between type 2 diabetes and liver fibrosis. The cellular protein markers that can be used for diagnosis and therapy of type 2 diabetes-associated liver fibrosis are discussed. We also highlight the potential therapeutic agents and their delivery systems that have been investigated for type 2 diabetes-associated liver fibrosis.