as a metabolic switch which influences the balance of energy (fat) storage versus energy (fat) oxidation [57]. SCD-1 deficiency increases the phosphorylation state of AMPK and hepatic AMPK activity [58], hence, elevating SCD-1 would inactivate AMPK, thereby promoting lipogenesis. However, we did not find an increase in the pAMPK/AMPK ratio in the ethanol-fed WT or KI mice (data not shown). In addition, ethanol increased levels of SCD-1 in the CYP2E1 KO mice in which no increase in steatosis was observed suggesting that the increase in SCD-1 is not a major explanation for the CYP2E1-stimulation of steatosis.
