Exposing metabolic health: insights in the effects of environmental chemicals, nuclear receptors and SLC25A47 on hepatic metabolism

Summary

The liver serves as the central organ in the regulation of whole-body metabolic homeostasis. Dysregulation of metabolism in the liver can thereby contribute to the development of metabolic complications such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Evidence suggests that exposure to certain environmental chemicals may contribute to the development of these metabolic complications, hence labeling them as metabolism-disrupting chemicals. However, the precise impact of specific environmental chemicals on hepatic metabolism has not been extensively investigated.

Thus, the aim of this thesis was to investigate the molecular effects of specific environmental chemicals on hepatic (lipid) metabolism and overall metabolic health. Furthermore, we aimed to gain a better understanding of the internal regulation of lipid metabolism in the liver. All in all, the studies presented in this thesis have improved our understanding on the molecular mechanisms by which environmental chemicals disrupt hepatic metabolism and have enhanced our understanding on the role of SLC25A47 on lipid metabolism in the liver.