Recent studies in our laboratory further suggested that EPO administration attenuated hepatic steatosis, possibly by repressing the protein expression of fatty acid translocase (CD36), fatty acid binding protein-1 (FABP1) and sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP1c); these proteins are involved in the uptake, intracellular transport and synthesis of fatty acids. This evidence concerns the gene CD36 and fatty liver disease.