Hong Kong Med J 2024;30(Suppl 7):S40-5
Squalene epoxidase as a novel therapeutic target in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: abridged secondary publication
D Liu, CC Wong, J Yu
Institute of Digestive Disease and Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
 
 
  1. Squalene epoxidase (SQLE), a key enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, is upregulated in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
  2. Liver-specific SQLE overexpression in mice induces spontaneous onset of steatosis and accelerates NAFLD progression in dietary models.
  3. The SQLE inhibitor terbinafine suppresses NALFD development in both dietary and genetic mouse models.
  4. Serum SQLE is a potential diagnostic biomarker for NAFLD.