Role of vascular endothelial growth factor B in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and its potential value

Abstract

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to fatty liver disease caused by liver injury factors other than alcohol. The disease is characterized by diffuse fat infiltration, including simple steatosis (no inflammatory fat deposition), nonalcoholic fatty hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and so on, which may cause liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and even liver cancer in the later stage of disease progression. At present, the pathogenesis of NAFLD is still being studied. The "two-hit" theory, represented by lipid metabolism disorder and inflammatory reactions, is gradually enriched by the "multiple-hit" theory, which includes multiple factors, such as insulin resistance and adipocyte dysfunction. In recent years, vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB) has been reported to have the potential to regulate lipid metabolism and is expected to become a novel target for ameliorating metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. This review summarizes the regulatory role of VEGFB in the onset and development of NAFLD and illustrates its underlying molecular mechanism. In conclusion, the signaling pathway mediated by VEGFB in the liver may provide an innovative approach to the diagnosis and treatment of NAFLD.

The Effect of Atorvastatin and Continuous Aerobic Exercise on the Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Beta Gene in the Liver Tissue of Diabetic Rats

“…In our study, in addition to increasing serum glucose and total cholesterol levels, diabetes induction led to a decrease in hepatic VEGF-β, which is consistent with the results of Lee et al (22). Research has shown that VEGF-β can reduce lipid accumulation and restore insulin sensitivity in NAFLD (7). Therefore, the decrease in VEGF-β caused by diabetes is related to the liver complications of diabetes such as hepatic steatosis and hepatic insulin resistance.…”

“…With regard to the effect of the interventions on hepatic VEGF-β gene expression, our results showed that continuous aerobic exercise could increase VEGF-β gene expression compared to the control diabetes group, but atorvastatin had no significant effect on hepatic VEGF-β. Previous research has shown that VEGF-β plays a role in lipid and glucose homeostasis (7). It has been reported that body fat, serum lipoprotein, NAFLD score, and insulin resistance increased after VEGF-β knockout mice were fed a high-fat diet (22).…”

“…The physiological mechanism of NAFLD is very complex. It is generally believed that the pathogenesis of primary NAFLD is related to lipid metabolism and inflammatory reactions, which cannot systematically and comprehensively explain the molecular mechanism and metabolic changes in NAFLD (7). Vascular endothelial growth factor beta (VEGF-β), which is seen as an obscure member of the VEGF family, appears to be a more tissuespecific vascular growth factor that can exert nutritional and metabolic effects (9).…”

“…In the early 2008, Karpanen et al unexpectedly found that although VEGF-β plays a weak role in the vascular system, it has a significant advantage in regulating lipid metabolism (10). Due to its potential in regulating lipid metabolism, VEGF-β is expected to become a new candidate for improving metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes (7). Exercise, as a regular physical activity, is an important non-pharmacological intervention that plays a role in the prevention and reduction of complications related to type 2 diabetes and changes diabetic complications to healthier conditions associated with improved quality of life (12).…”