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Molecular mediators of hepatic steatosis and liver injury
Jeffrey D. Browning, Jay D. Horton
Jeffrey D. Browning, Jay D. Horton
Published July 15, 2004
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2004;114(2):147-152. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI22422.
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Molecular mediators of hepatic steatosis and liver injury

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Abstract

Obesity and its associated comorbidities are among the most prevalent and challenging conditions confronting the medical profession in the 21st century. A major metabolic consequence of obesity is insulin resistance, which is strongly associated with the deposition of triglycerides in the liver. Hepatic steatosis can either be a benign, noninflammatory condition that appears to have no adverse sequelae or can be associated with steatohepatitis: a condition that can result in end-stage liver disease, accounting for up to 14% of liver transplants in the US. Here we highlight recent advances in our understanding of the molecular events contributing to hepatic steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Authors

Jeffrey D. Browning, Jay D. Horton

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Figure 1

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Metabolic alterations resulting in hepatic triglyceride accumulation in ...
Metabolic alterations resulting in hepatic triglyceride accumulation in insulin-resistant states. Insulin resistance is manifested by hyperinsulinemia, increased hepatic glucose production, and decreased glucose disposal. In adipocytes, insulin resistance increases hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) activity, resulting in elevated rates of triglyceride lipolysis and enhanced FFA flux to the liver. FFAs can either be oxidized in the mitochondria to form ATP or esterified to produce triglycerides for storage or incorporation into VLDL particles. In liver, hyperinsulinemia induces SREBP-1c expression, leading to the transcriptional activation of all lipogenic genes. Simultaneously, hyperglycemia activates ChREBP, which transcriptionally activates L-PK and all lipogenic genes. The synergistic actions of SREBP-1c and ChREBP coordinately activate the enzymatic machinery necessary for the conversion of excess glucose to fatty acids. A consequence of increased fatty acid synthesis is increased production of malonyl-CoA, which inhibits CPT-1, the protein responsible for fatty acid transport into the mitochondria. Thus, in the setting of insulin resistance, FFAs entering the liver from the periphery, as well as those derived from de novo lipogenesis, will be preferentially esterified to triglycerides. ACL, ATP citrate lyase; CPT-1, carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1; FAS, fatty acid synthase; LCE, long-chain fatty acyl elongase.

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