©The Author(s) 2021. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2021; 27(8): 677-691
Published online Feb 28, 2021. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i8.677
Published online Feb 28, 2021. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i8.677
G protein-coupled receptors as potential targets for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease treatment
Ming Yang, Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, United States
Chun-Ye Zhang, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, United States
Author contributions: Yang M and Zhang CY designed, collected data, wrote, revised, and finalized the manuscript and contributed equally.
Supported by University of Missouri , Postdoctoral Research Award.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Corresponding author: Ming Yang, DVM, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, One Hospital Dr. Medical Science Building, Columbia, MO 65212, United States. yangmin@health.missouri.edu
Received: November 11, 2020
Peer-review started: November 11, 2020
First decision: December 17, 2020
Revised: December 24, 2020
Accepted: January 21, 2021
Article in press: January 21, 2021
Published online: February 28, 2021
Processing time: 106 Days and 8 Hours
Peer-review started: November 11, 2020
First decision: December 17, 2020
Revised: December 24, 2020
Accepted: January 21, 2021
Article in press: January 21, 2021
Published online: February 28, 2021
Processing time: 106 Days and 8 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease. Without effective treatment, NAFLD can progress to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Currently, there is no effective treatment option. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been shown to play essential roles in metabolic disorders, such as NAFLD, through their function as receptors for bile acids and free fatty acids. Therapies such as probiotics and GPCR agonists could be applied to modulate GPCR function to ameliorate liver metabolism syndrome. Herein, this review summarizes the current findings regarding the role of GPCRs in the development and progression of NAFLD.