Circadian and sleep perturbations are integral components of Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) - Frederic Gachon

High amplitude daily rhythms of physiology orchestrated by the circadian clock are hallmarks of a healthy condition. The perturbation of these rhythms, or chronodisruption, is associated with diverse pathologies including obesity, type 2 diabetes, liver diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, it remains largely unknown whether this chronodisruption has an active role in the pathophysiology of these diseases or if it is a consequence of these pathologies. Therefore, we aim to establish how the chronodisruption observed in patients with obesity and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) is associated with a perturbation of the sex-specific circadian physiology and how it impacts cellular metabolism and the progression of the diseases. Our recent results show the strong interconnection between MASLD and sleep perturbation through mechanisms involving disfunction of liver physiology and inflammation, suggesting that sleep perturbations are an integral component of MASLD pathophysiology.