Hepatic inflammation and lipid metabolism pathways

Hepatic inflammation and lipid metabolism pathways encompass the integrated biochemical processes that govern the synthesis, storage, and oxidation of fatty acids and cholesterol within the liver, alongside the immunological responses to metabolic stress. In healthy states, these pathways maintain energy balance; however, chronic overnutrition leads to lipid accumulation (steatosis), which triggers lipotoxicity and the activation of inflammatory signaling via NF-κB and JNK pathways. This metabolic-inflammatory crosstalk is the primary driver of Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), characterized by hepatocyte injury, inflammation, and progressive fibrosis. Therapeutic intervention focuses on specific molecular targets within these pathways, such as Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), to resolve steatosis and dampen the inflammatory response. Understanding these pathways is critical for developing treatments that prevent the progression of chronic liver disease to cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.

Other names

Liver inflammation and lipid metabolismHepatic metabolic-inflammatory axisMASH/NASH signaling pathways

Drugs targeting these pathways typically act as agonists or antagonists of specific nodes such as nuclear receptors (FXR, PPARs), thyroid hormone receptors (THR-beta), or cytokine signaling molecules to reduce hepatic fat accumulation and suppress pro-inflammatory cascades.