Hepatic cytochrome P450 2E1, steatosis and fibrosis in alcoholic and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Since alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cannot be distinguished by histopathology, similar pathogenetic mechanisms may be involved in the development of steatohepatitis from fatty liver. One of these mechanisms is oxidative stress. Ethanol as well as free fatty acids induce cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) which generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to lipid peroxidation, fibrosis and DNA lesions (1). Inhibition of CYP2E1 by chlormethiazole also prevents alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in animal experiments (2). To investigate the relation between hepatic CYP2E1, steatos…