Recent Advances in the Detection and Pathophysiology of Steatotic, Alcoholic and Drug-Induced Liver Diseases

A special issue of Livers (ISSN 2673-4389).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2026) | Viewed by 10741

Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute for Bioengineering (IBioE), School of Engineering, Faraday Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JL, UK
Interests: hepatology; liver tissue engineering; drug-induced liver injury; liver disease; synthetic biology; Alzheimer's disease

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Guest Editor
1. NOVA Medical School, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1099-085 Lisboa, Portugal
2. Research Center for Toxicogenomics and Human Health (ToxOmics), Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1099-085 Lisboa, Portugal
Interests: pharmaco-/toxicokinetics; pharmaco-/toxicogenomics; drug metabolism; cytochrome P450; adverse drug reactions (ADRs); drug-induced liver injury (DILI); cancer drug resistance; metabolic liver disease
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Co-Guest Editor
Institute for Bioengineering (IBioE), School of Engineering, Faraday Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JL, UK
Interests: liver disease modelling; early liver pathogenesis; MASLD/MASH

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Co-Guest Editor
ToxOmics, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NMS|FCM, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: xenobiotic metabolism and toxicogenomics; ADR; DILI; MASLD/MASH

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chronic liver diseases (CLDs) have emerged as a leading cause of hepatic-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Amongst these, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), alcoholic liver disease (ALD), and drug-induced liver injury (DILI) result from one or a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle-associated factors, such as diet-induced obesity, metabolic dysfunction, alcohol misuse, and drug toxicity. The late detection of CLDs, owing to their insidious nature and heterogeneous pathophysiology, significantly limits the use of therapeutic options that aim to halt or reverse disease progression. A promising avenue for improved patient prognosis lies in the identification of cell-type and disease-specific biomarkers, especially those that can be detected at the early stages of disease. We invite submissions that highlight the latest advancements in pathophysiological and inflammatory mechanisms underlying CLDs (excluding those with viral or autoimmune origins). Contributions that examine novel pathogenic pathways, cellular interactions, biomarker discovery and characterisation, mixed aetiologies (e.g., MASLD-DILI), precision medicine, and the influence of lifestyle and environmental factors on CLD progression are particularly encouraged. This Special Issue aims to compile recent breakthroughs in research that will enhance the early diagnosis and targeted treatment of CLDs, paving the way for improved patient outcomes.

Dr. Leonard Nelson
Dr. Michel Kranendonk
Dr. Anabel Martinez Lyons
Dr. Francisco Esteves
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity
  • alcoholic liver disease (ALD)
  • biomarkers and molecular targeting for CLDs
  • chronic liver disease (CLD)
  • drug-induced liver injury (DILI)
  • extracellular microenvironment and cell-cell communication in CLDs
  • genetic variants influencing MASLD-MASH
  • hepatic inflammation
  • in vitro and in vivo CLD modelling
  • lipotoxicity
  • metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH)
  • metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
  • multiomics and systems biology
  • new tools and technologies in the study of CLDs
  • novel therapeutic strategies for CLDs and precision medicine

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 18991 KB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Acute Liver Injury in Mice Following Two Routes of Acetaminophen Administration
by Liana Monteiro da Fonseca Cardoso, Ayla Josma Teixeira, Miriam Salles Pereira, Tatiane Barreto da Silva, Andrea Henriques-Pons and Luiz Anastacio Alves
Livers 2026, 6(4), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/livers6040076 - 6 Aug 2026
Viewed by 397
Abstract
Background: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare, yet potentially fatal clinical syndrome characterized by the rapid deterioration of hepatic function in individuals without pre-existing liver disease, typically occurring over a period of days to weeks. It is associated with substantial morbidity and [...] Read more.
Background: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare, yet potentially fatal clinical syndrome characterized by the rapid deterioration of hepatic function in individuals without pre-existing liver disease, typically occurring over a period of days to weeks. It is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, particularly in low-income settings, and is clinically defined by the presence of jaundice, coagulopathy, and hepatic encephalopathy. Among its various etiologies, acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is the leading cause of drug-induced liver injury and ALF, especially in industrialized countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom. In the present study, we compared two experimental approaches for inducing APAP-mediated ALF in mice: oral and intraperitoneal (IP) administration. Methods: While most studies reported in the literature rely on a single route of administration, this comparative analysis provides a more comprehensive evaluation of the advantages and limitations associated with each method, thereby enhancing the reproducibility and translational relevance of experimental ALF models. Results: Our results demonstrate that both administration routes effectively recapitulate key clinical and biochemical features of human ALF, including hepatic encephalopathy, marked elevations in serum transaminases, and high mortality rates. However, the effective APAP dose required to achieve these outcomes differed between the two routes, with 400 mg/kg for IP administration and 500 mg/kg for oral administration, as would be expected based on pharmacokinetic considerations. From a clinical assessment perspective, the use of adapted scoring systems, such as the O’Grady criteria, is essential for evaluating encephalopathy in animal models. Notably, oral administration via gastric gavage requires greater technical expertise, which may influence experimental consistency. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings underscore the importance of route selection in experimental design and highlight the value of comparative approaches for optimizing preclinical models of ALF. Full article
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Review

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24 pages, 2376 KB  
Review
Advances in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Strategies for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
by Ryan Njeim, Omar Abureesh, Ali Sohail, Ryan Tam and Liliane Deeb
Livers 2026, 6(3), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/livers6030035 - 6 May 2026
Viewed by 2121
Abstract
The recent redefinition of steatotic liver diseases, introducing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), reflects a growing consensus among liver societies and marks a paradigm shift in disease classification. MASLD subsumes former categories of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [...] Read more.
The recent redefinition of steatotic liver diseases, introducing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), reflects a growing consensus among liver societies and marks a paradigm shift in disease classification. MASLD subsumes former categories of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and incorporates metabolic criteria alongside moderate alcohol intake, while MASH replaces nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), aligning terminology with disease mechanisms. This evolution clarifies the diagnostic criteria and minimizes stigma, facilitating more consistent epidemiological and clinical investigations. Recent advances in noninvasive diagnostics, including vibration-controlled transient elastography, magnetic resonance elastography, shear-wave elastography, and the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis test, have improved the identification and stratification of patients with advanced fibrosis. Current guidelines recommend targeted screening in populations at elevated metabolic risk, enabling earlier intervention and personalized management. Population studies indicate that MASLD affects over one-third of adults and is a major contributor to cardiovascular and metabolic morbidity. Therapeutic progress is highlighted by the approval of novel agents such as resmetirom and semaglutide for the treatment of MASH with fibrosis. Emerging dual and triple agonists, as well as sodium–glucose cotransporter inhibitors, offer additional promise, although further research is required to define their long-term efficacy and safety. As the disease prevalence escalates globally, the integration of multidisciplinary care, the ongoing refinement of diagnostic tools, and the expansion of therapeutic options will remain essential to optimizing outcomes for affected individuals. Full article
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Other

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9 pages, 1627 KB  
Case Report
Endogenous Alcohol and Auto-Brewery Syndrome Complicating Liver Transplantation: A Case Report and Literature Review
by Jack C. Drda and Jill P. Smith
Livers 2025, 5(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/livers5010013 - 13 Mar 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6766
Abstract
Introduction: We describe the first reported case of auto-brewery syndrome complicating liver transplantation, wherein a patient was temporarily removed from a liver transplant list not due to ethanol consumption but rather spontaneous ethanolic fermentation within the gastrointestinal tract. Auto-brewery syndrome (ABS) is a [...] Read more.
Introduction: We describe the first reported case of auto-brewery syndrome complicating liver transplantation, wherein a patient was temporarily removed from a liver transplant list not due to ethanol consumption but rather spontaneous ethanolic fermentation within the gastrointestinal tract. Auto-brewery syndrome (ABS) is a rare metabolic condition where gastrointestinal microbiota dysbiosis leads to spontaneous microbial ethanolic fermentation under anaerobic, high carbohydrate conditions. Because no alcohol is directly consumed by the patient, this alcohol is often referred to as “endogenous”. Methods: We present a case where a patient awaiting orthotopic liver transplantation was removed from the transplant list due to significantly elevated blood alcohol levels. However, an upper endoscopy revealed Candida esophagitis, and the diagnosis of ABS was made. Results: With antifungal fluconazole treatment, the patient’s blood alcohol biomarkers decreased, and the patient underwent a successful liver transplantation. Discerning between patient exogenous alcohol consumption and endogenous alcohol production with ABS remains a significant challenge for clinicians, and this knowledge could have serious implications for a patient awaiting a life-saving liver transplant. Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of listening to the patient and carefully assessing potential liver transplant recipients who consistently deny alcohol consumption, specifically for gut dysbiosis and ABS. Full article
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