SQSTM1 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: In contrast to the decreased several autophagy gene expression and suppression of autophagy activity in the liver obtained from the mouse model of long-term diet-induced obesity [53], we found that the increased LC3II (an autophagic activity marker) protein levels were associated with down-regulation of p62 protein expression in hCG-treated and insulin+hCG-treated rats compared to control rats.