Smurf1 is highly expressed in the livers of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) patients and NAFLD mode mice. Smurf1 promotes p53 ubiquitynation via stabilizing mouse double minute 2 (MDM2). An decrease in p53 enhances lipogenesis by inducing SREBP-1c, and inhibits lipolysis via repressing malonyl-CoA decarboxylase (MCD) or Lipin1. Overall, Smurf1 deficiency attenuates liver steatosis via the MDM-p53 pathway.
- Wenjun Lin
- Xin Zhang
- Wei An