New glimmer of hope: MedUni Vienna discovers a revolutionary approach to liver diseases

New glimmer of hope: MedUni Vienna discovers a revolutionary approach to liver diseases

A groundbreaking study by MedUni Vienna has uncovered a promising approach to treating metabolic diseases of the liver. The research focused on inhibiting the enzyme adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), which plays a key role in fat metabolism. This not only led to improvements in liver health in experimental tests, but also reduced liver fat and inflammation, as well as fibrotic remodeling, as published in the prestigious Journal of Hepatology. Researchers led by Emmanuel Dauda Dixon and Michael Trauner observed significant positive effects in mice that had previously been fed a high-fat diet and developed a steatohepatitis-like disease through chemical intervention.

New therapeutic approach

The use of the specific enzyme inhibitor atglistatin (ATGLi) proved to have a great effect: the study results showed an improvement in the PPARα signaling pathway and a promotion of the synthesis of hydrophilic bile acids, which could revolutionize the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), which, according to experts, is increasing worldwide and causing serious health problems. This disease can lead to liver cirrhosis and cancer, making the need for targeted therapies even more urgent, as also reported in the further analysis on ATGL inhibition by PubMed, which deepened advances in the mechanisms of MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) and liver fibrosis.

The study by Dixon and Trauner shows that inhibition of ATGL also has beneficial effects on bile acid composition and intestinal fat absorption. These findings open up new avenues for developing innovative medicines that could improve the lives of millions of sufferers. Given the rapidly increasing number of cases of MASLD, often due to unhealthy lifestyles, this research is crucial and may usher in a new era in liver disease treatment.