The impact of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis on brain vasculature

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its more severe form, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), are increasingly recognized as multi-system conditions with implications beyond the liver, including potential impacts on the brain. This study explores the relationship between NASH and cerebral vasculature using two different models in mice: the methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet and carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) injections. This thesis aimed to assess the effect of NASH on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and perivascular fibrosis. Important differences were observed in the expression of CD13 and KDR in the MCD diet group, suggesting that NASH contributes to BBB disruption. Elevated LDL-H and LDL-C3 levels further indicated metabolic changes affecting brain health. However, liver enzyme markers like ALT and AST showed no significant changes, possibly due to the early NASH stage.. Additionally, increased perivascular pericyte activation, collagen IV, and fibronectin levels were noted, pointing to early BBB breakdown and fibrosis.This study highlights the complex relationship between NASH and brain health, emphasizing the need for further research to explore the mechanisms linking liver pathology to cerebral dysfunction.