Mechanism and regulation of mitophagy in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD): A mini-review

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been hypothesized to play a central role in the pathobiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Thus, maintenance of mitochondria homeostasis and function is important for NAFLD treatment. Mitophagy, a process that selectively clears damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria through autophagic machinery, is beneficial for mitochondrial homeostasis. Notably, strategies that regulate mitophagy exert beneficial effects in preclinical experiments. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a natural product including active ingredients, extracts, and has great potential in the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. Given the importance of mitophagy, this review summarizes mitophagy-related pathways and the latest findings on the regulation of mitophagy in NAFLD. We also highlight the potential of TCM targeting mitophagy for the treatment of NAFLD.