Table 2.

Novel endocrine functions of the liver

Liver hormone	Target organ	Action on target organ	Alteration in liver diseases
Amino acids	Pancreatic α cells	Stimulate cell proliferation and glucagon secretion	Not studied yet
Betatrophin	Pancreatic β cells (?)	Stimulate cell proliferation (?)	Increased in cirrhosis
Fetuin	Skeletal muscle; Adipose tissue	Decrease insulin sensitivity; Reduce adiponectin expression	Elevated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
FGF21	Adipose tissue; Brain	Increase insulin sensitivity; Reduce food intake	Elevated in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Activin E	Adipose tissue	Increase fat oxidation	Increased in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Tsukushi	Adipose tissue	Increase thermogenesis	Increased in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
GPNMB	Adipose tissue	Increase lipogenesis	Increased in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

FGF21: Fibroblast growth factor 21; GPNMB: Glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B.