Research progress of apoptosis signal regulating kinases-1 and its inhibitors in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH)is the most common chronic liver disease. However, the treatment of NASH remains challenging. Apoptosis signal regulating kinases-1(ASK-1)is a member of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinases(MAPKKKs). When the body is stimulated by reactive oxygen species, endoplasmic reticulum stress, calcium influx and extracellular inflammatory signals, c-Jun amino terminal kinases(JNK)and p38 MAPK wiube activated, which then promotes cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and production of inflammatory factors, and causes NASH, fibrosis and other diseases. Therefore, ASK-1 inhibitors can be used to treat NASH. This paper reviews the current treatment methods of NASH, the structure and mechanism of ASK-1, and the research progress of ASK-1 inhibitors in the treatment of NASH in recent years, which aims to explore the guiding significance for the design and development of ASK-1 inhibitors.