Abstract
The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a protective cellular response activated under
conditions of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The hepatic UPR is activated in several
forms of liver disease including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Recent
data defining the role of the UPR in hepatic lipid metabolism have identified molecular
mechanisms that may underlie the association between UPR activation and NAFLD. It
has become increasingly evident that the IRE1α/Xbp1 pathway of the UPR is critical
for hepatic lipid homeostasis, and dysregulation of this evolutionarily conserved
pathway is associated with human nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Although increasing
evidence has delineated the importance of UPR pathway signaling in fatty liver disorders,
the regulation of the hepatic UPR in normal physiology and fatty liver disorders remains
incompletely understood. Understanding the role of the UPR in hepatic lipid metabolism
may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of NAFLD.
Keywords
unfolded protein response - hepatic lipid metabolism - fatty liver - endoplasmic reticulum
stress