CD36 and fatty liver disease: CD36 is a multifunctional membrane receptor involved in long-chain fatty acid uptake, lipid metabolism, and inflammation.9–12 Hepatocytes normally express low levels of CD36 though CD36 expression increases with lipid-rich diets in humans and mouse models.13–18 Upregulation of CD36 membrane protein in liver elevates cellular uptake of fatty acids and positively correlates with hepatic steatosis.14,19–21 Liver-specific CD36 knockout attenuates steatosis in mouse models of NAFLD.22,23