CHRONIC ETHANOL INSULT INCREASES HSD17beta13 ON HEPATOCELLULAR LIPID DROPLETS VIA A LOSS OF AN ASSOCIATED SEGREGASE p97/VCP TO PROMOTE HEPATIC STEATOSIS
<div><p><b>Background: </b>Chronic EtOH insult is known to lead to an accumulation of lipid droplets (LDs) in hepatocytes resulting in hepatic steatosis. Our previous study reported that EtOH resulted in a 10-fold reduction of the LD-associated segregase VCP/p97, a protein implicated in LD protein clearance. Concomitant with this decrease was a 6-fold increase in the association of the hydroxysteroid enzyme HSD17β13 known to play an important role in hepatic steatosis.