Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as fatty liver disease, is becoming increasingly common. However, it is not well understood whether pregnancy has long-term effects on a woman's risk of developing liver disease later in life. This project will use a mouse model to compare how liver disease develops in females that have never been pregnant and those that have had previous pregnancies. By studying changes in the liver during disease development, researchers hope to better understand how reproductive history may influence liver health and disease risk over time.

The findings could support more personalized approaches to screening and prevention for liver disease and other health conditions that may be influenced by a woman's reproductive history.