Unravelling the immunometabolic role of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) in the pathogenesis of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD)

Did you know that over 1 in 4 people worldwide may have fatty liver disease and most don’t even know it? Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic liver condition characterised by the accumulation of fat in the liver, accompanied by metabolic abnormalities such as obesity, insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes, or metabolic dysregulation. MAFLD pathologies range from simple steatosis to a more severe inflammatory form known as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). MASH is marked by hepatocyte injury, fibrosis, and an increased risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma . Because MAFLD often presents with no symptoms in its early stages, many individuals remain unaware of the disease until significant liver damage has already occurred.