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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2010 Aug 1.
Published in final edited form as: Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009 Aug;3(4):445–451. doi: 10.1586/egh.09.32

Figure 2. Hepatic lipid partitioning and liver damage in NAFLD.

Figure 2

Hepatic steatosis characteristic of patients with NAFLD, which is commonly associated with obesity and insulin resistance results mainly from increase flow of free fatty acids from circulation. In this context, lipid compartmentation in liver cells and in particular the ratio of monounsaturated to saturated free fatty acids that is a function of SCD1 activity, plays a central role in whether adaptation occurs resulting in a benign clinical course, or there is ongoing hepatocellular apoptosis, and liver damage resulting in steatohepatitis and fibrosis development.. Abbreviations: SCD1, stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1.