Are the intrahepatic expression levels of bile acid transporters inversely correlated with the histological progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease?
The expression levels of the BA export transporter BSEP were inversely correlated with NAS in NAFLD patients. Such down-regulation may cause excessive BA levels in hepatocytes, leading to cell injury. Our findings may afford new insights into the pathogenesis of NASH.
These are the first in vivo data to identify, isolate, and characterize hypoxic AECs. HIF-1α regulation through hypoxic AECs is critical to the initiation of acute inflammation after LC.