MASLD is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, associated with numerous health issues, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and both hepatic and extrahepatic cancers. Despite its widespread impact, there are currently no specific biomarkers for diagnosing or predicting MASLD severity, nor are there sufficient pharmacological treatments to combat this chronic condition. Recent studies have revealed dysregulation in the levels of certain metabolites associated with the polyamine pathway in patients with MASLD.

In this context, our group has recently described that the livers of patients with MASH are characterized by a significant increase in specific polyamines like putrescine, which could play a role in the disease’s pathophysiology by enhancing the lipotoxic effects of saturated fatty acids, such as palmitic acid, in hepatocytes. This project aims to address these gaps by identifying novel circulating molecules related to polyamine metabolism that could enable non-invasive diagnosis of MASLD severity and by establishing therapeutic strategies based on modulating this metabolic pathway. The outcomes of this work will help tackle a high-impact chronic disease for which effective treatments and reliable diagnostic biomarkers remain scarce.