Involvement of the Autophagy-ER Stress Axis in High Fat/Carbohydrate Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease that can progress from simple hepatic steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and even further to liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. Overconsumption of high fat and/or carbohydrate are among the most common lifestyle factors that drive the development and progression of NAFLD. This review evaluates recent reports on the involvement of autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Here, we reveal a mechanism of an intrinsically linked axis of impaired autophagy and unresolved ER stress that mediates the development and progression of NAFLD resulting from the overconsumption of high fat and/or carbohydrate.