Evidence mapPaperPMID 40465795Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Identification of potentially effective drugs for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease against liver cirrhosis: In-silico drug repositioning-based retrospective cohort study.

Chae Won Lee, Eun Seok Kang, Seogsong Jeong, Hyun Wook Han

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Chae Won LeeDepartment of Biomedical Informatics, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9380-8230
Eun Seok KangDepartment of Biomedical Informatics, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.
Seogsong JeongDepartment of Biomedical Informatics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Hyun Wook HanDepartment of Biomedical Informatics, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Republic of Korea.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMetabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a major risk factor for liver cirrhosis, yet effective prevention or treatment strategies remain limited. To address this, we utilized a signature-based in silico drug repositioning approach to identify potential therapeutics for MASLD that may reduce the risk of cirrhosis.

methodsWe analyzed gene expression datasets to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MASLD and matched them to candidate drugs using L1000CDS2. We further validated potential drugs by cross-referencing with prescription data from the Korea National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). Participants who underwent health screenings between 2013 and 2014 were included. MASLD was diagnosed in individuals with hepatic steatosis (fatty liver index ≥60) and at least one cardiometabolic risk factor.

resultsWe identified 11 drug candidates and analyzed 49,555 MASLD patients (mean age: 63.0 years, SD: 8.6). Atenolol (SHR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.72-0.92; P < 0.001), isosorbide dinitrate (SHR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.73-0.93; P = 0.001), and valsartan (SHR: 0.52; 95% CI: 0.45-0.60; P < 0.001) were associated with a reduced risk of cirrhosis. Conversely, amlodipine-based combinations (SHR: 1.24; 95% CI: 1.11-1.39; P < 0.001), torasemide (SHR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.24-1.56; P < 0.001), and valsartan-based combinations (SHR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.09-1.37; P < 0.001) were linked to an increased risk.

conclusionsOur findings suggest that antihypertensive drugs such as atenolol and isosorbide dinitrate may protect MASLD patients from cirrhosis, providing valuable insights for clinical applications and treatment strategies. LIMITATIONS: This study is limited to drugs registered in the Korean NHIS, potentially excluding other relevant candidates. Additionally, the absence of dietary and genetic data in the NHIS database may introduce residual confounding. Lastly, as the study population consists solely of Korean adults, the findings may not be generalizable to other populations.

Indexed as

Drug RepositioningFatty LiverLiver CirrhosisAgedComputer SimulationFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRepublic of KoreaRetrospective StudiesRisk Factors

Identifiers

PMID40465795
PMCPMC12136429

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.