Tumor necrosis factor‐α‐mediated hepatocyte apoptosis stimulates fibrosis in the steatotic liver in mice
Yosuke Osawa, Ekumi Kojika, Yukiko Hayashi, Masamichi Kimura, Koji Nishikawa, Sachiyo Yoshio, Hiroyoshi Doi, Tatsuya Kanto, Kiminori Kimura – 13 February 2018 – Hepatocyte apoptosis has been implicated in the progression of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. However, it is unclear whether the induction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α‐mediated hepatocyte apoptosis in the simple fatty liver triggers liver fibrosis. To address this question, high‐fat diet‐fed mice were repeatedly administered D‐galactosamine, which increases the sensitivity of hepatocytes to TNF‐α‐mediated apoptosis.