Is Western Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis in Ldlr-/- Mice Reversible?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major public health burden in western societies. The progressive form of NAFLD, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is characterized by hepatosteatosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and hepatic damage that can progress to fibrosis and cirrhosis; risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma. Given the scope of NASH, validating treatment protocols (i.e., low fat diets and weight loss) is imperative.

Methods

We evaluated the efficacy of two diets, a non-purified chow (NP) and purified (low-fat low-cholesterol, LFLC) diet to reverse western diet (WD)-induced NASH and fibrosis in Ldlr-/- mice.

Results

Mice fed WD for 22-24 weeks developed robust hepatosteatosis with mild fibrosis, while mice maintained on the WD an

SUBMITTER: Lytle KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4711955 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature