Can skin exposure to sunlight prevent liver inflammation?

Liver inflammation contributes towards the pathology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here we discuss how skin exposure to sunlight may suppress liver inflammation and the severity of NAFLD. Following exposure to sunlight-derived ultraviolet radiation (UVR), the skin releases anti-infla...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gorman, S., Black, Lucinda, Feelisch, M., Hart, P., Weller, R.
Format: Journal Article
Published: MDPI Publishing 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9902
_version_ 1848746083717480448
author Gorman, S.
Black, Lucinda
Feelisch, M.
Hart, P.
Weller, R.
author_facet Gorman, S.
Black, Lucinda
Feelisch, M.
Hart, P.
Weller, R.
author_sort Gorman, S.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Liver inflammation contributes towards the pathology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here we discuss how skin exposure to sunlight may suppress liver inflammation and the severity of NAFLD. Following exposure to sunlight-derived ultraviolet radiation (UVR), the skin releases anti-inflammatory mediators such as vitamin D and nitric oxide. Animal modeling studies suggest that exposure to UVR can prevent the development of NAFLD. Association studies also support a negative link between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D and NAFLD incidence or severity. Clinical trials are in their infancy and are yet to demonstrate a clear beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation. There are a number of potentially interdependent mechanisms whereby vitamin D could dampen liver inflammation, by inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis and liver fibrosis, modulating the gut microbiome and through altered production and transport of bile acids. While there has been a focus on vitamin D, other mediators induced by sun exposure, such as nitric oxide may also play important roles in curtailing liver inflammation.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T06:27:37Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-9902
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T06:27:37Z
publishDate 2015
publisher MDPI Publishing
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-99022017-09-13T14:50:55Z Can skin exposure to sunlight prevent liver inflammation? Gorman, S. Black, Lucinda Feelisch, M. Hart, P. Weller, R. Liver inflammation contributes towards the pathology of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Here we discuss how skin exposure to sunlight may suppress liver inflammation and the severity of NAFLD. Following exposure to sunlight-derived ultraviolet radiation (UVR), the skin releases anti-inflammatory mediators such as vitamin D and nitric oxide. Animal modeling studies suggest that exposure to UVR can prevent the development of NAFLD. Association studies also support a negative link between circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D and NAFLD incidence or severity. Clinical trials are in their infancy and are yet to demonstrate a clear beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation. There are a number of potentially interdependent mechanisms whereby vitamin D could dampen liver inflammation, by inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis and liver fibrosis, modulating the gut microbiome and through altered production and transport of bile acids. While there has been a focus on vitamin D, other mediators induced by sun exposure, such as nitric oxide may also play important roles in curtailing liver inflammation. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9902 10.3390/nu7053219 MDPI Publishing fulltext
spellingShingle Gorman, S.
Black, Lucinda
Feelisch, M.
Hart, P.
Weller, R.
Can skin exposure to sunlight prevent liver inflammation?
title Can skin exposure to sunlight prevent liver inflammation?
title_full Can skin exposure to sunlight prevent liver inflammation?
title_fullStr Can skin exposure to sunlight prevent liver inflammation?
title_full_unstemmed Can skin exposure to sunlight prevent liver inflammation?
title_short Can skin exposure to sunlight prevent liver inflammation?
title_sort can skin exposure to sunlight prevent liver inflammation?
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/9902