Figure 1.

Hepatocyte‐specific expression of human CES1 prevents Western diet–induced hepatosteatosis by promoting lipolysis and FAO. C57BL/6 mice were injected intravenously with AAV8‐ALB‐Null or AAV8‐ALB‐hCES1 at a dose of 3 × 10¹¹ genomic copies/mouse and fed a Western diet for 16 weeks (n = 8). (A) Hepatic cholesterol levels. (B) Hepatic TG levels. (C) Hepatic FFA levels. (D) Hepatic fatty acid composition analyzed by GC‐MS (n = 6‐8). (E) Representative images of liver sections stained with Oil Red O (top panel) or hematoxylin and eosin (bottom panel). (F) Liver microsome proteins were isolated and TGH activity was measured using ³H‐triolein as substrates. (G) Hepatic mRNA levels were quantified by quantitative real‐time PCR. (H) Mouse primary hepatocytes were isolated from C57BL/6 mice injected with AAV8‐ALB‐Null or AAV8‐ALB‐hCES1. FAO was determined using ³H‐palmitic acid as substrates (n = 5). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. Abbreviations: CE, cholesteryl ester; H&E, hematoxylin and eosin; ORO, Oil Red O.