PNPLA2 and fatty liver disease: To elucidate the mechanism of the ST32db inhibition of hepatic steatosis, we used a qPCR and Western blotting in HepG2 cells to analyze the expression of several key genes that affect adipogenesis (e.g., CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), C/EBPβ, and PPARγ2), lipogenesis (e.g., acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP), fatty acid synthase (FAS), stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), SREBP1, diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT)1 and DGAT2), and lipolysis (e.g., adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL)).