CYP2E1 and oxidant stress in alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Alcoholic (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) are clinical conditions leading to hepatocellular injury and inflammation resulting from alcohol consumption, high fat diet, obesity and diabetes, among others. Oxidant stress is a major contributing factor to the pathogenesis of ALD and NAFLD. Multiple studies have shown that generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is key for the progression of fatty liver to steatohepatitis. Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) plays a critical role in ROS generation and CYP2E1 is also induced by alcohol itself. This review summarizes the role of CYP2E1 in ALD and NAFLD.