On the other hand, although the expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ, fat-specific protein (FSP)27 and CD36 did not differ between the fasting and fed condition states in the control, LIrs1KO or LIrs2KO mice, these mRNA expression levels were significantly lower in the LIrs1KO mice (Fig. 2h), which could explain the protection against the development of steatosis and decreased TG content in the liver of LIrs1KO mice (Fig. 2a–d). This evidence concerns the gene CD36 and steatosis.