Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

In Vitro Modeling of Fat Deposition in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
Published on: July 19, 2024
Stearic acid attenuates cholestasis-induced liver injury
Pin-Ho Pan1, Shih-Yi Lin, Yen-Chuan Ou
1Department of Pediatrics, Tung's Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Abstract:
Inflammation is involved in cholestasis-induced hepatic damage. Stearic acid has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory potential. We assessed whether stearic acid has protective effects against cholestasis-related liver damage. Cholestasis was produced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in male Sprague-Dawley rats for 3weeks. Daily administration of stearic acid was started 2weeks before injury and lasted for 5weeks. In comparison with the control group, the BDL group showed hepatic damage as evidenced by elevation in serum biochemicals, ductular reaction, fibrosis, and inflammation. These pathophysiological changes were attenuated by chronic stearic acid supplementation. The anti-fibrotic effect of stearic acid was accompanied by reductions in alpha-smooth muscle actin-positive matrix-producing cells and critical fibrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor beta-1 production. Stearic acid also attenuated BDL-induced leukocyte accumulation and NF-kappaB activation. The data indicate that stearic acid attenuates BDL-induced cholestatic liver injury. The hepatoprotective effect of stearic acid is associated with anti-inflammatory potential.
Related Concept Videos
Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents
Cholecystitis
Carboxylic Acids to Esters: Acid-Catalyzed (Fischer) Esterification Overview
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Pathophysiology
Gastritis-II: Pathophysiology
In acute gastritis, the gastric mucosa becomes swollen and red and undergoes superficial erosion. Superficial ulceration may lead to bleeding.
In chronic gastritis, persistent or repeated insults lead to chronic inflammatory changes and, eventually, thinning or atrophy of the gastric tissue.
Gastritis can stem from various causes, each...
Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology
