Hepatic

Patient sample and mouse studies suggest inhibiting CDK4 could help treat age-associated hepatic steatosis. In liver samples from 12 non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients with hepatic steatosis and 17 non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) patients, CDK4 levels were higher in patients over 60 years old than in patients under age 60, and high liver levels of CDK4 were associated with the severity of hepatic steatosis. In a mouse model of age-associated hepatic steatosis, the dual CDK4/CDK6 inhibitor Ibrance palbociclib decreased the ratio of liver weight to body weight, hepatic lipid and triglyceride levels, serum cholesterol levels and markers of hepatocyte senescence compared with no treatment. Next steps could include identifying and testing selective CDK4 inhibitors in models of age-associated hepatic steatosis. ...