HMGCR and metabolic syndrome: In accordance with the upregulated SREBPs, their target genes involved in fatty acid synthesis (ACC and FAS) and cholesterol metabolism (HMGCS, HMGCR, and LDLR) were also enhanced following prolonged CLO administration, lending more evidence to the theory that the SREBP-dependent lipid generation plays an essential role in AAPDs-induced dyslipidemia.