Page 27 - EJMO-9-3

Eurasian Journal of Medicine

and Oncology

REVIEW ARTICLE
CXC chemokines as potential non-invasive

biomarkers and therapeutic targets for non-
alcoholic fatty liver disease: A review

Zhihui Li and Zhiyun Chen*

Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University,
Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China

Abstract

Lately, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has risen as the leading chronic
liver disease worldwide, posing a significant risk for the development of cirrhosis
and hepatocellular carcinoma. The rising prevalence of NAFLD among adolescents
mirrors the increasing rates of obesity in this demographic group. Despite ongoing
research, the precise etiology of NAFLD remains unclear, with the “multiple parallel
hits” hypothesis garnering the most support. Among the various factors implicated
in NAFLD’s progression, the CXC chemokine family has been identified as a
potential contributor to its development. The purpose of this review is to explore
the involvement of CXC chemokines in the development of NAFLD, identify their
potential targets within the disease’s development, and explore possible clinical
therapeutic avenues. In addition, we assess the feasibility of utilizing CXC chemokines
*Corresponding author: as biomarkers for the diagnosis of NAFLD.
Zhiyun Chen
(jcyjzxchen@163.com)
Keywords: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; CXC chemokines; Non-invasive biomarkers;
Citation: Li Z, Chen Z. CXC
chemokines as potential non- Inflammatory factor; Pathogenic mechanism; Medication
invasive biomarkers and therapeutic
targets for non-alcoholic fatty liver
disease: A review. Eurasian J Med
Oncol. 2025;9(3):19-31.
doi: 10.36922/ejmo.8383 1. Introduction
Received: January 3, 2025 Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has risen as the leading cause of chronic
liver disease globally, covering a spectrum of conditions that extend from simple liver
Revised: January 26, 2025
steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis.
Accepted: February 17, 2025 NASH represents a significant condition in this spectrum, with a potential to evolve
Published online: April 11, 2025 into hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Consequently, NAFLD presents a major risk
to global health, underscoring the imperative for research to unravel its pathogenesis
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s).
This is an Open-Access article and identify effective therapeutic targets. There has been a dramatic increase in the
distributed under the terms of the incidence of NAFLD in the last 40 years, with the current global prevalence estimated
Creative Commons Attribution to be approximately 30% or higher. This alarming trend underscores the urgency of
1
License, permitting distribution,
and reproduction in any medium, understanding the complex interplay of factors that contribute to NAFLD’s development
provided the original work is and progression. As research continues, it is crucial to not only identify the mechanisms
properly cited. underlying NAFLD but also to develop strategies for early detection and intervention,
Publisher’s Note: AccScience which could significantly reduce the burden of this disease on public health. Although
2,3
Publishing remains neutral with liver-related complications occur in <10% of NAFLD patients, there are still no validated
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional biomarkers or imaging tests to assess whether an NAFLD patient is in a high-risk
affiliations. stage (e.g., NASH). However, NASH-associated cirrhosis is a potent risk factor for the

Volume 9 Issue 3 (2025) 19 doi: 10.36922/ejmo.8383