The effect of leptin and insulin on free fatty acid (FFA)-induced steatosis in primary mouse hepatocytes

Background: Hepatic steatosis is one of the most abundant liver diseases in the Western world. It is characterized by an imbalance between uptake, metabolism and excretion of FFAs, which results in the accumulation of triglyceride (TAG)-filled lipid droplets in hepatocytes. Monounsaturated oleic acid (OA) and saturated palmitic acid (PA) are widely used for inducing steatosis. Both are likewise the most common fatty acids in Western diet. Our aim was to investigate how do insulin and leptin regulate the FFA-uptake and the TAG-metabolism in primary mouse hepatocytes. In addition we observed the impact of the FFA…