3-D imaging reveals that neuronal components are involved in fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is the most common hepatic disorder, with prevalence around 25% in the Western countries. With the application of three-dimensional imaging technology, Human Protein Atlas researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered that one portion of the vegetative nerves in the liver undergoes a severe degeneration in experimental and human fatty liver disease. The study, published in the US-based journal Science Advances and illustrated on the cover, describes that the degeneration of liver sympathetic nerves is correlated with liver pathology and emphasizes that nerve-mediated communication is impaired in the fatty liver.

The study shows that the degeneration of liver sympathetic nerves is correlated with the severity of liver pathology. It emphasizes that the entire neuronal communication is impaired in the fatty liver. Furthermore, it concludes that a chronically high sympathetic tone is a key factor in the reported degeneration. Interestingly, the study reveals that alterations in the liver sympathetic innervation occurs already in early stages of fatty liver disease. With progression to more severe liver disease (steatohepatitis), this condition turns to a more pronounced degeneration of the nerves.

To complement the publication, a movie has been published at the Human Protein Atlas portal showing the fatty liver using 3-D imaging.

Movie: HPA YouTube channel.

Publication: C. Adori et al: Disorganization and degeneration of liver sympathetic innervations in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease revealed by 3D imaging. Sci. Adv. 7, eabg5733 (2021).