DUAL ROLE OF LECT2 IN THE EVOLUTION OF METABOLIC ASSOCIATED FATTY LIVER DISEASE (MAFLD) – METALECT

Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) is a major public health concern. Alarmingly, steatosis (NAFL) progresses pejoratively to Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), which is considered as a growing worldwide epidemic threat, due to the absence of treatment. METALECT data strongly suggest that LECT2 is a key hepatokine regulating cholesterol metabolism and inflammatory response, 2 critical NASH features. The goal of METALECT is to determine how LECT2 transduces its dual metabolic and inflammatory effects during MAFLD. Our aims will be dedicated to 1)- Decipher the role of LECT2 in metabolic reprogramming during MAFLD, 2)- Determine at the molecular level how LECT2 crosstalks with LXR pathway, 3)- Unravel the role of LECT2 in the inflammatory response during MAFLD, 4)- Perform a translational analysis in human MAFLD. Understanding LECT2 functions and the identification of its targets will help to improve MAFLD patient management and offer therapeutic perspectives.