Research progress on the role and mechanism of mitochondrial dynamics regulation in steatotic liver disease

Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is a disease characterized by abnormal accumulation of lipids in hepatocytes, which includes metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, alcohol-associated liver disease, and metabolic dysfunction and alcohol-related liver disease. Most patients only have simple liver steatosis at an early stage, which will gradually develop into hepatitis, liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis as the progression of the disease. Mitochondria is a highly dynamic organelle, which changes its morphology, size, and location by continuous division and fusion. This process is known as mitochondrial dynamics. The imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics can cause the dysfunction of mitochondria, leading to increased lipid deposition in liver cells, as well as antioxidant capacity deficient associated reactive oxygen species accumulation and lipid peroxidation, resulting in increased lipotoxicity and liver injury. Therefore, mitochondrial dynamics play an important role in the development of steatotic liver disease. In this review, the relationship between mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy, mitochondrial-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes, and mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis in steatotic liver disease were discussed. In addition, the mechanism role of natural compounds in improving steatotic liver disease via regulating mitochondrial dynamics-related cell functions was also systematically reviewed, aiming to provide the basis and clues for the subsequent investigations and further clinical development and application of natural compounds in the treatment of steatotic liver disease.