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ISSN 2097-3497 (Online)
CN 22-1108/R
Volume 41 Issue 6
Jun.  2025
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Article Navigation >  Journal of Clinical Hepatology  > 2025  >  41(6): 1167-1173

Mechanism of action of the fat mass and obesity-associated gene in the development and progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and related targeted therapies

DOI: 10.12449/JCH250625
  • 1.

    Graduate School of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine，Nanning 530004，China

  • 2.

    Department of Hepatology，Ruikang Hospital Affiliated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine，Nanning 530022，China

Research funding:

National Natural Science Foundation of China (82160837);

Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Qihuang Engineering High-level Talent Cultivation Project (2021007)

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  • Corresponding author: LIU Xudong， lxdlhx@163.com （ORCID： 0000-0003-1468-0484）
  • Received Date: 2024-09-26
  • Accepted Date: 2024-10-28
  • Published Date: 2025-06-25
    Abstract
  • Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） is a common chronic liver disease with the pathological feature of lipid accumulation in the liver， and it is closely associated with liver metabolic disorders. The latest research has shown that the pathogenesis of MAFLD is associated with the abnormal expression of specific genes， especially the fat mass and obesity-associated （FTO） gene. The abnormal activity of the FTO gene may lead to an imbalance in liver lipid metabolism， which manifests as the increase in fatty acid synthesis and the reduction in fatty acid oxidation， thereby promoting liver fat deposition and inflammatory response. Therefore， regulating the expression or activity of the FTO gene is considered one of the potential strategies for the treatment of MAFLD. At present， drug research targeting the function of the FTO gene has achieved preliminary results， and inhibition of the activity of the FTO gene can help to regulate liver lipid metabolism and alleviate liver inflammatory injury. This article reviews the mechanism of action of the FTO gene in the development and progression of MAFLD， summarizes the advances in drug research on the FTO gene and related metabolic pathways in recent years， and analyzes their application prospect in research and treatment.

     

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