FIGURE 2.

Palmitate-induced increased ROS generation and insulin resistance in HepG2 hepatocytes. Exposure of human HepG2 hepatocytes to palmitate (0.25 mm) for 24 h decreased intracellular glycogen content (A) and increased gluconeogenesis (B) in the presence of 1 nm insulin (Usbio), and lipid accumulation (C) enhanced ROS generation in a dose- and time-dependent manner (D and E). NOX inhibitor diphenyliodonium (DPI; 2.5 μm) significantly inhibited generation of ROS in response to palmitate (F). Data represent means ± S.D. (error bars) (n = 3 independent experiments). *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01; ***, p < 0.01 versus control. L-NAME, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester.