Publication Name	World Journal of Hepatology
Manuscript ID	119792
Country	Saudi Arabia

Category	Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Manuscript Type	Basic Study
Article Title	Differential Impact of High-Fructose and Ethanol Diets on Early Steatohepatitis and Hepatic Melanocortin-4 Receptor Responses in Rats
Manuscript Source	Unsolicited Manuscript
All Author List	Salamah M Alwahsh, Min Xu, Maisa Nabulsi, Sabine Mihm, Faisal A Alzahrani and Giuliano Pasquale Ramadori
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number Deanship of Scientific Research at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia IPP: 361-130-2025
Corresponding Author	Faisal A Alzahrani, PhD, Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Stem Cells Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Abdullah Suliman Street, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia. faahalzahrani@kau.edu.sa
Key Words	Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease; Fatty liver; Inflammation; Fructose; Alcohol
Core Tip	Modern dietary habits often combine high-fructose beverages with alcohol, yet their distinct hepatic effects remain poorly defined. Using controlled rat dietary models, this study demonstrates that a high-fructose diet primarily induces metabolic overload, endocrine dysregulation, visceral adiposity, and steatosis, whereas fructose combined with ethanol amplifies hepatocellular injury, inflammatory signaling, and regenerative activity. Multi-level analyses (qRT-PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence) reveal dynamic hepatic melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) responses, including altered glycosylation and increased nuclear localization. These findings provide new insights into a potential peripheral adaptive role of MC4R in early steatohepatitis and highlight how distinct dietary stressors generate different pathogenic trajectories in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
Citation	Alwahsh SM, Xu M, Nabulsi M, Mihm S, Alzahrani FA, Ramadori GP. Differential impact of high-fructose and ethanol diets on early steatohepatitis and hepatic melanocortin-4 receptor responses in rats. World J Hepatol 2026; In press

Received	2026-02-06 01:36
Peer-Review Started	2026-02-06 01:38
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-03-03 09:36
Return for Revision	2026-03-03 16:37
Revised	2026-03-15 23:40
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-04-17 02:39
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-04-17 03:08
Articles in Press	2026-04-17 03:08
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-5182 (online)
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Copyright	©Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026. No commercial re-use. See Permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
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