Essential fatty acids deficiency promotes lipogenic gene expression and hepatic steatosis through the liver X receptor

Background & Aims: Nutrients influence non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Essential fatty acids deficiency promotes various syndromes, including hepatic steatosis, through increased de novo lipogenesis. The mechanisms underlying such increased lipogenic response remain unidentified. Methods: We used wild type mice and mice lacking Liver X Receptors to perform a nutrigenomic study that aimed at examining the role of these transcription factors. Results: We showed that, in the absence of Liver X Receptors, essential fatty acids deficiency does not promote steatosis. Consistent with this, Liver X Receptors are required for the elevated expression of genes involved in lipogenesis in response to essential fatty acids deficiency. Conclusions: This work identifies, for the first time, the central role of Liver X Receptors in steatosis induced by essential fatty acids deficiency. (c) 2013 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.