Hypoxic Signaling and Cholesterol Lipotoxicity in Fatty Liver Disease Progression

Figure 1

Consequences of chronic activation of the HIF-1α–iNOS axis, and its downstream involvement in lipid metabolism and fatty liver disease formation. HIF-1α stabilization can be induced by hypoxia or by exclusive NO or mitochondrial ROS production. HIF-1α stabilization promotes lipid synthesis and LD formation, both of which can aggravate liver steatosis. Chronic, but not transient, expression of HIF-1α and iNOS can induce inflammatory liver damage and fibrosis.