Fig. 2.

Potential molecular mechanism(s) involved in the soy effects on NAFLD in the non-obese models. Soy protein and isoflavones speed up hepatic lipolysis through activation of SREBP-2 and up-regulation of the downstream gene (HMGC-R and LDLR) expression, while soy protein suppresses hepatic lipogenesis by down-regulation of SREBP-1 and its target genes (such as ME and FAS). Moreover, both soy protein and isoflavones inhibit formation and accumulation of lipid droplets in liver via suppression of PPAR-γ2 and FSP-27 expression. FAS, fatty acid synthase; FSP-27, fat-specific protein 27; HMGC-R, 3-hydroxyl-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase; LD, lipid droplets; LDLR, low-density lipoprotein receptor; ME, malic enzyme; PPAR-γ2, peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor γ2; SREBP-1, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1; TG, triglycerides