Figure 2.

Pathogenic processes implicated in the onset and development of NASH-related HCC. Hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia caused by obesity, promote insulin resistance and hormones dysregulation, which are responsible to trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, as well as dysregulation of autophagy and immune function, leading to NASH and ultimately HCC. Abbreviations: CRP, C-reactive protein; ER, endoplasmic reticulum; HIF-1α, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha; NKT, natural killer T; NOX4, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced (NADPH) oxidase 4; ROS, reactive oxygen species; Tregs, regulatory T cells.