Figure 2.

Representation of the link between hepatic mitochondrial adaptation, liver, and oxidative stress during the spectrum of NAFLD. Oxidative capacity can be temporarily enhanced to reduce triglyceride accumulation by increasing fatty acid oxidation. Nonetheless, oxidative stress results in mitochondrial dysfunction and the progression of NAFLD. Chronic oxidative stress stimulates inflammatory pathways, leading to hepatocyte death and liver injury. Up arrows indicate increased and down arrows suggest a decline, while green arrows indicate the effects of a ketogenic diet. AMPK, AMP-activated protein kinase; DRP1, dynamin-related protein 1; FGF21, fibroblast growth factor 21; MFN2, mitofusin 2; OXPHOS, oxidative phosphorylation; PGC1-α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α; ROS, reactive oxygen species; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α.