Fig. 8

. A graphic summary of endogenously synthesized DHA in preventing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocyte injury. In elovl2−/− mutant liver, endogenous deficiency of DHA leads to imbalanced fatty acid metabolism due to increased lipogenesis and decreased lipid secretion, mitochondrial dysfunction, ER stress, and finally ferroptosis-induced hepatic injury. Whereas, by introducing a fat1-transgene or feeding a DHA-rich diet in elovl2−/− mutant, endogenous DHA level is recovered, which leads to balanced lipid metabolism, relieved mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress, decreased ferroptosis, and relieved hepatic injury. Red phrases or arrows indicate suppression or downregulation, and green phrases or arrows indicate activation or upregulation.