Abstract
The disturbed lipid homeostasis within hepatocytes is the basis for the onset of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which can be presented as the sole liver steatosis or can proceed into stages complicated with inflammation (NASH) and/or fibrosis.
One type of lipids, sterol lipids, play also a role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. The adverse effects of cholesterol accumulation in the hepatocytes led to the formulation of CASH (cholesterol induced steatohepatitis), the type of steatohepatitis induced by adverse effects of cholesterol on hepatocytes. Other sterol lipid subclasses include oxysterols, which interfere with mitochondrial respiration, bile acids, whose metabolic pathways are under scrutiny for compounds potentially effective for NASH treatment, and vitamin D, the secosterol with beneficial effect on liver lipids. The metabolism of lipids is closely connected with pathogenesis and development of liver steatosis. One type of lipids, sterol lipids, play an important role in the many pathophysiological events of NASH.