DZD scientists showed that obese individuals without steatohepatitis (NASH) have increased mitochondrial respiratory rates compared to lean ones, suggesting hepatic mitochondrial flexibility at early stages of obesity-related insulin resistance. This adaptation is, however, lost in patients with NASH, who have lower maximal respiration, despite higher mitochondrial mass.

These results have been obtained by direct measurement of hepatic mitochondrial content and capacity in humans. The discovered ‘‘hepatic mitochondrial flexibility’’ which is associated with early stages of human obesity could serve as future target for the prevention and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Original publication:
Koliaki C, Szendroedi J, Kaul K, Jelenik T, Nowotny P, Jankowiak F, Herder C, Carstensen M, Krausch M, Knoefel WT, Schlensak M, Roden M. Adaptation of Hepatic Mitochondrial Function in Humans with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Is Lost in Steatohepatitis. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2015.04.004, Cell Metabolism May 5, 2015

Link to the publication:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S155041311500159X