Frontiers in Endocrinology (Jun 2017)

Alternative RNA Splicing in the Pathogenesis of Liver Disease

  • Nicholas J. G. Webster,
  • Nicholas J. G. Webster

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2017.00133
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming increasingly prevalent due to the worldwide obesity epidemic and currently affects one-third of adults or about one billion people worldwide. NAFLD is predicted to affect over 50% of the world’s population by the end of the next decade. It is the most common form of liver disease and is associated with increased risk for progression to a more severe form non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, as well as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis, and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma. This review article will focus on the role of alternative splicing in normal liver physiology and dysregulation in liver disease.

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