Advances in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): From Pathogenesis to Precision Intervention

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide, affecting more than 30% of adults and closely associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and broader cardiometabolic dysfunction. Its clinical spectrum ranges from isolated steatosis and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Although substantial progress has been made, the molecular events connecting lipid accumulation, insulin resistance, inflammation, hepatocellular injury, and fibrogenesis remain incompletely defined. Current debates concern disease heterogeneity, the reliability of non-invasive diagnostic tools, the role of the gut–liver axis, and the extent to which emerging therapies can provide durable benefits across distinct patient subgroups. A deeper understanding of disease mechanisms and clinically relevant biomarkers is essential for improving risk stratification and therapeutic decision-making.This Research Topic aims to advance an integrated understanding of MASLD pathogenesis and its translation into precision prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. It will examine how hepatic lipid metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, innate and adaptive immunity, fibrogenic signaling, genetic and epigenetic variation, and gut microbiome alterations contribute to disease initiation and progression. The topic will also highlight biomarkers for early detection, disease staging, prognosis, and treatment-response prediction, together with preclinical and clinical evidence for emerging interventions. Particular emphasis will be placed on studies that connect molecular discoveries with patient stratification, therapeutic target validation, and improved management of hepatic and extrahepatic complications.To gather further insights into the molecular, translational, and clinical dimensions of MASLD, we welcome contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:o Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying MASLD and MASH progression;o Hepatic lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress;o Inflammatory, immune, and fibrogenic pathways in liver injury;o Genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic determinants of disease heterogeneity;o Gut microbiome, microbial metabolites, and gut–liver axis dysfunction;o Circulating, imaging-based, and tissue biomarkers for diagnosis, staging, prognosis, and treatment monitoring;o Small molecules, biologics, nucleic-acid-based therapies, nutraceuticals, and lifestyle interventions;o Non-invasive assessment of steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis;o Clinical trials, real-world evidence, and precision-management strategies;o Hepatic and extrahepatic complications, including cardiovascular, renal, metabolic, and oncological outcomes;o Computational, systems-biology, and artificial-intelligence approaches to MASLD research.Appendix: We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles, FAIR² Data with particular encouragement for translational and interdisciplinary studies. Topic editors: Haibing Hua, YuFeng Zhang, Pengcheng Wang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86306/advances-in-metabolic-dysfunction-associated-steatotic-liver-disease-masld-from-pathogenesis-to-precision-intervention