Figure 2.

Role of autophagy in lipid metabolism in the liver. In hepatocytes, autophagy plays an important role in lipid turnover from lipid droplets. In starvation, autophagy degrades lipid droplets to increase free fatty acids and fuel β-oxidation. In obesity-related conditions such as hyperinsulinemia and lipid accumulation, autophagy is inhibited, which causes a predisposition toward more lipid accumulation and, in turn, further autophagy inhibition that, in organs such as the liver, can lead to hepatic steatosis.