The transition from infectious to metabolic disease is of paramount relevance in the shifting epidemiology of liver diseases. Vaccines and therapies now prevent or cure many forms of viral hepatitis and metabolic-dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is increasingly recognized as the most common chronic liver disease. MASLD is associated with obesity and encompasses a range of pathologies from steatosis, metabolic-disfunction associated steatohepatitis (MASH), fibrosis, and cirrhosis. MASLD also increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The incidence of HCC is rising, and MASLD may account for up to 25% of these cases in Westernized countries, though this association may be even higher. The research group is focused on the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of MASLD/MASH. The group is actively involved in biomarker discovery projects that will assist in the diagnosis, risk-stratification of patients with MASLD, and therapeutic clinical trials.

Publications:

1. Meneghel P, Pinto E, Russo FP. Physiopathology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: from diet to nutrigenomics. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2022 Sep 1;25(5):329-333. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0000000000000859. PMID: 35920204; PMCID: PMC10878452.
2. Vitale A, Trapani S, Russo FP, Miele L, Svegliati Baroni G, Marchesini G, ... Cillo U; Associazione Italiana per lo Studio del Fegato (AISF).; Società Italiana Trapianti d’Organo (SITO).; Centro Nazionale Trapianti (CNT). Waiting list mortality and 5-year transplant survival benefit of patients with MASLD: An Italian liver transplant registry study. JHEP Rep. 2024 Jun 22;6(9):101147. doi: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101147. PMID: 39282226; PMCID: PMC11399673.
3. Gabbia D, Sayaf K, Zanotto I, Colognesi M, Frion-Herrera Y, Carrara M, Russo FP, De Martin S. Tyrosol attenuates NASH features by reprogramming the hepatic immune milieu. Eur J Pharmacol. 2024 Apr 15;969:176453. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176453. Epub 2024 Feb 24. PMID: 38408597.
4. Younossi ZM, Zelber-Sagi S, ... Burra P, ... Alqahtani SA. Global Consensus Recommendations for Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease and Steatohepatitis. Gastroenterology. 2025 Apr 11:S0016-5085(25)00632-8. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2025.02.044. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40222485.
5. Gabbia D, Sayaf K, Zanotto I, Colognesi M, Frion-Herrera Y, Carrara M, Russo FP, De Martin S. Tyrosol attenuates NASH features by reprogramming the hepatic immune milieu. Eur J Pharmacol. 2024 Apr 15;969:176453. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176453. Epub 2024 Feb 24. PMID: 38408597.
6. Germani G, Degré D, Moreno C, Burra P. Workup and management of liver transplantation in alcohol-related liver disease. United European Gastroenterol J. 2024 Mar;12(2):203-209. doi: 10.1002/ueg2.12548. Epub 2024 Mar 8. PMID: 38456339; PMCID: PMC10954425.

Funding 

Ordinary Department funding

People involved:

Patrizia Burra, Full Professor
Francesco Paolo Russo, Associate Professor
Giacomo Germani, Associate Professor
Nora Cazzagon, Assistant Professor
Alberto Zanetto Assistant Professor
Alberto Ferrarese, Assistant Professor

Group members:

Martina Gambato, (Consultant  Hepatologists), Sara Battistella and Elisa Pinto, (Gastroenterologists and PhD students), Silvia Zanella/Maria Galbiati/Francesca Besazza/Chiara Suraci  (Fellows in Gastroenterology), Paola Zanaga (Study Coordinator), Teresa Zappitelli (Study Coordinator and PhD student), Romilda Cardin (PhD biologist)