Adipocyte retinoic acid receptor α prevents obesity and steatohepatitis by regulating energy expenditure and lipogenesis.

Objective: The adipose tissue-liver axis is a major regulator of the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Retinoic acid signaling plays an important role in development and metabolism. However, little is known about the role of adipose retinoic acid signaling in the development of obesity-associated NAFLD.

Hepatic retinoic acid receptor alpha mediates all-trans retinoic acid's effect on diet-induced hepatosteatosis.

All-trans retinoic acid (AtRA) is an active metabolite of vitamin A that influences many biological processes in development, differentiation, and metabolism. AtRA functions through activation of retinoid acid receptors (RARs). AtRA is shown to ameliorate hepatic steatosis, but the underlying mechanism is not well understood.