Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the severe stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is defined as the presence of hepatic steatosis with inflammation, hepatocyte injury, and different degrees of fibrosis. Although NASH affects 2-5% of the global population, no drug has been specifically approved to treat the disease. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) and its analogs have emerged as a potential new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of NASH. In fact, FGF21 deficiency favors the development of steatosis, inflammation, hepatocyte damage, and fibrosis in the liver, whereas administration of FGF21 analogs ameliorates NASH by attenuating these processes. We review mechanistic insights into the beneficial and potential side effects of therapeutic approaches targeting FGF21 for the treatment of NASH.

中文翻译：

---

靶向 FGF21 用于治疗非酒精性脂肪性肝炎。

非酒精性脂肪性肝炎 (NASH) 是非酒精性脂肪性肝病 (NAFLD) 的严重阶段，定义为肝脏脂肪变性伴炎症、肝细胞损伤和不同程度的纤维化。尽管 NASH 影响了全球 2-5% 的人口，但还没有专门批准用于治疗这种疾病的药物。成纤维细胞生长因子 21 (FGF21) 及其类似物已成为治疗 NASH 的潜在新治疗策略。事实上，FGF21 缺乏有利于肝脏脂肪变性、炎症、肝细胞损伤和纤维化的发展，而 FGF21 类似物的给药通过减弱这些过程来改善 NASH。我们回顾了针对 FGF21 治疗 NASH 的治疗方法的有益和潜在副作用的机制见解。