Pusan National University (PNU) researchers found a way to treat "Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease" even in patients that do not consume alcohol often.

Recently, Professor Jeong Yeong-Mi (Dept. of Life Sciences, PNU) discovered that the female sex hormone "Estrogen" can control the incidence and progression of “non-alcoholic fatty liver disease” (NAFLD). The study results were posted in an online journal, on January 31st in “Nature Communications.” The National Research Foundation (NRF) promoted and carried out the study as a mid-sized research support project. While Prof. Jeong was the corresponding author, Dr. Lee Chan-Bin participated in the project as the *first author.

NAFLD has a high incidence rate in Korea and around the world. However, it has been struggling because there are no precise treatments. In particular, the rate of NAFLD is higher in men than in women in their 40s, but the incidence in women increases steeply after their 50s. During this period, women experience menopause. The female sex hormone Estrogen decreases rapidly. Because of that, the academia set a connection between the rapid decrease in Estrogen and the outbreak of NAFLD, but the scientific evidence or explanation was insufficient.

Prof. Jeong’s team believed that Estrogen and NAFLD are related. Above all, they wanted to confirm that "Formyl Peptide Receptor 2" (FPR2), a protein that controls NAFLD development, appeared in the liver. No specific reports of FPR2 revelation in the liver have been found. In the interview with Channel PNU, Prof. Jeong said, "The most difficult part of this study was to confirm the revelation of FPR2 in the liver."

The researchers were able to observe FPR2 revelation by including female mice and male mice, which were general subjects of the experiment. Subsequently, by comparing gender differences and FPR2 removed gender differences, they found that Estrogen directly controls the incidence and progression of the NAFLD. Prof. Jeong said, "There is no gender difference in patients, but there is a problem in applying treatments studied only with male mice to female patients. Research activities that use both males and females need time, effort, and massive costs. The current research done were essential studies. They will serve as a good model for researchers in the future."

Prof. Jeong emphasized that such results are the fruits of patience and perseverance despite numerous trials and errors over the past four years. She said, "It's like any job, but science requires patience and perseverance. I had many difficulties identifying the connection between NAFLD and FPR2, but I was able to solve the problem with the joy and scientific curiosity obtained from solving the clue." Prof. Jeong added that she would continue studying the effects of FPR2 on signaling systems regulating lipid metabolism in the interstitial cells.

*First author: the person who took the most initiative in the study

Reporter Kim Hyun-Kyoung

Translated by Shin Ji-Won