| Title: | Liver-Pancreas Fat Deposition: Impact on Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity and Cardiac Dysfunction |
| Journal: | Liver International |
| Published: | 14 Feb 2026 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41689358/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1111/liv.70548 |
| URL: | https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdfdirect/10.1111/liv.70548 |
Publication 17760
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Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and pancreatic steatosis (PS) are interconnected ectopic fat conditions linked to cardiometabolic dysregulation. Their combined effect on the long-term risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM; ≥ 2 of diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke) and cardiac remodelling remains unclear.</p>
METHODS: We examined cross-sectional associations between PS and the severity of MASLD histology in a biopsy-proven MASLD cohort from China. Subsequently, using the UK Biobank, we assessed the long-term risk of developing both incident CMM and cardiac structural/functional alterations (via cardiac magnetic resonance [CMR]) associated with single-organ versus dual-organ steatosis. Exploratory proteomic profiling was performed to identify potential molecular pathways.</p>
RESULTS: In the biopsy-proven cohort (n = 482), both continuous pancreatic proton density fat fraction and PS status were associated with severe hepatic steatosis, lobular inflammation, and fibrosis (all p < 0.05). In the UK Biobank cohort (n = 16 408; median follow-up of 5.6 years), the coexistence of MASLD and PS additively increased the risk of new-onset CMM (HR = 2.013, 95% CI: 1.219-3.322, p = 0.006). Dual-organ steatosis was also associated with marked cardiac alterations, specifically increased left ventricular mass and impaired ventricular function. Proteomics revealed upregulation of lysosomal catabolic and glycosaminoglycan-degrading pathways in dual-organ steatosis compared to single-organ steatosis. Gene Ontology highlighted heparan sulphate proteoglycan catabolism as a hallmark of dual-organ involvement.</p>
CONCLUSION: PS is associated with greater severity of MASLD histology, and the concomitant involvement of both the liver and pancreas drives a higher risk of CMM and cardiac remodelling.</p>
14 Keywords
- Adult
- Aged
- China
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Fatty Liver
- Female
- Humans
- Liver
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Multimorbidity
- Pancreas
- Pancreatic Diseases
- United Kingdom
12 Authors
- Li-You Lian
- Tianyi Xia
- Zhong-Wei Chen
- Cai-Yun Wen
- Xiao-Dong Zhou
- Tie Xiao
- Giovanni Targher
- Christopher D. Byrne
- Yee Hui Yeo
- Shenghong Ju
- Wen-Yue Liu
- Ming-Hua Zheng
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 151193 | Combining imaging data with genomic and phenotypic data to improve the whole-course management of human noncommunicable diseases |
Enabling scientific discoveries that improve human health