Alcoholic liver disease: Pathogenesis, management, and novel targets for therapy

• Published in: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology Vol. 28; no. S1; pp. 77 - 84
• Main Authors: Orman, Eric S, Odena, Gemma, Bataller, Ramon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2013
• Subjects: alcoholic liver diseases; Animals; Chemokines, CXC; Diazomethane - analogs & derivatives; Disease Models, Animal; Endocannabinoids; Fatty Acids; fibrosis; Humans; Inflammasomes; inflammation; Interleukin-22; Interleukins; Intestines - microbiology; Lipopolysaccharides; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic - etiology; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic - genetics; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic - therapy; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Osteopontin; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; STAT3 Transcription Factor; translational research; Translational Research, Biomedical; fibrosis; translational research; inflammation; alcoholic liver diseases
• ISSN: 0815-9319; 1440-1746; 1440-1746
• DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12030

Alcohol use is a leading cause of preventable morbidity and mortality worldwide, with much of its negative impact as the result of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). ALD is a broad term that encompasses a spectrum of phenotypes ranging from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis, progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The mechanisms underlying the development of these different disease stages are incompletely understood. Standard treatment of ALD, which includes abstinence, nutritional support, and corticosteroids, has not changed in the last 40 years despite continued poor outcomes. Novel therapies are therefore urgently needed. The development of such therapies has been hindered by inadequate resources for research and unsuitable animal models. However, recent developments in translational research have allowed for identification of new potential targets for therapy. These targets include: (i) CXC chemokines, (ii) IL‐22/STAT3, (iii) TNF receptor superfamily, (iv) osteopontin, (v) gut microbiota and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), (vi) endocannabinoids, and (vii) inflammasomes. We review the natural history, risk factors, pathogenesis, and current treatments for ALD. We further discuss the findings of recent translational studies and potential therapeutic targets.