Acides gras polyinsaturés oméga 3 et toxicité hépatique de l'éthanol : rôle du remodelage membranaire

Alcoholic liver disease is characterized by an early development of steatosis that can progress to steatohepatitis or cirrhosis, but only for 20% of heavy drinkers. Nowadays, description of risk factors and of cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the disease pathogenesis still remains incomplete. These last years, the plasma membrane microstructures called lipid rafts, were described as a new target for ethanol. Besides, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, naturally present in fat fish, were reported to be able to modulate physically and chemically the lipid raft microenvironment, with beneficial effects towards inflammation or cancer. In this context, the aim of the present review was to establish a link between omega 3-induced membrane alterations and their effects on the molecular mechanisms involved in alcoholic liver disease pathogenesis.