AUTHOR=Han Juqiang , Zhang Xiang 

TITLE=Complement Component C3: A Novel Biomarker Participating in the Pathogenesis of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 8 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2021.653293

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2021.653293

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently the most common cause of chronic liver disorder worldwide. The pathological spectrum of NAFLD ranges from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that induces progressive liver cirrhosis and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the molecular mechanisms driving the transformation of NASH are limited. There is a compelling need for understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of NASH, and therefore providing new insight into mechanism-based therapy. Currently, a number of studies found that complement system, an inmate immune system, played an important role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, which was also proved by our most recent result. Complement component 3 (C3), a protein of the immune system, plays a hub role in the complement system. Herein, we present a review on the role and molecular mechanism of C3 in NASH as well as the implication of C3 in NASH diagnosis and treatment.