Search Results (1,319)

Background: The demographic crisis observed in industrialized countries has been accompanied by a decline in the reproductive potential of human populations. One of the causes for the global deterioration in men’s reproductive health is adiposity and sedentary lifestyle, leading to reduced fertility and a decrease in androgen status. The aim of the study was to assess the association between abdominal obesity and semen parameters, including sperm DNA fragmentation, as well as key indicators of hormonal and metabolic status in young men from the general population. Methods: Our cross-sectional study was conducted among Russian and Belarusian men living in six cities. The examination of men (n = 1283, median age 23 years) included questionnaires, anthropometry, and the collection of peripheral blood and semen samples. Semen analysis was conducted according to WHO guidelines. Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was evaluated using the SCSA method. The serum and seminal zinc concentration was determined using spectrophotometry and direct calorimetry. Hormonal and metabolic levels were measured using commercial kits. Waist circumference (WC) was used as a surrogate marker of abdominal adiposity. Participants were allocated to three phenotypes: non-obese (control, WC < 94 cm), excess abdominal fat (94 ≤ WC < 102 cm) and abdominal obesity (WC ≥ 102 cm). Results: In our study population, 85.8% of participants were young (under 30 years of age), 8.6% had excess abdominal fat, 5.7% had abdominal obesity (AO), and 65.2% had normozoospermia. Men with AO were characterized by a decrease in semen volume, total sperm count, sperm concentration and progressive motility compared to the non-obese control. DFI was significantly higher in obese compared to non-obese men. Obese participants had significantly lower testosterone and inhibin B levels, but higher FSH and leptin levels compared to non-obese men. Men with AO had elevated serum zinc levels but reduced seminal zinc content. Abdominal obesity was also associated with significant metabolic changes, in particular, with increased levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, fasting glucose and uric acid. AO-related testosterone deficiency (serum testosterone level ≤ 12.1 nmol/L) was detected in 38.7% of obese men and was accompanied by elevated DFI, levels of FSH, and zinc, as well as unfavorable changes in metabolic indicators. Physically active AO men (who engaged in recreational sports or physical labor) demonstrated reduced anthropometric indicators of AO and leptin levels, increased LH and testosterone levels, and improved carbohydrate and lipid metabolism compared to sedentary AO men. Conclusions: AO is accompanied by a decrease in the activity of Leydig and Sertoli cells, as well as an imbalance of the hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular axis and metabolic status. AO, associated with testosterone deficiency or a sedentary lifestyle, is a potential risk factor for the weakening of male reproductive health. However, physically active stout men showed more favorable anthropometric, hormonal, and metabolic indicators compared with sedentary stout men. In the long term, obese men who ignore a correction of sedentary lifestyle are not protected from a decline in reproductive health. Full article

Volatile flavor compounds (VFCs) are major determinants of sensory quality in fermented foods. In lactic acid bacteria (LAB)-containing systems, their formation reflects precursor metabolism, strain-specific metabolic capacity, environmental and community regulation, and non-enzymatic chemistry. This review develops an integrated precursor–pool–flux framework for LAB-associated VFC formation. Carbohydrate/citrate-, protein/amino-acid-, and lipid-related routes provide the principal precursor inputs, which intersect to different extents at three functional metabolite pools centered on α-keto acids, acetyl-CoA-related metabolites, and C4–C5 TCA intermediates. These pools are treated as operational convergence and redistribution nodes rather than new biochemical classifications. Genetic capacity, intracellular regulation, cultivation conditions, and interspecies interactions modify precursor supply and flux partitioning, thereby altering quantitative VFC output. Biological–non-enzymatic coupling is considered where processing changes precursor accessibility, fermentation-derived substrates undergo subsequent chemical transformation, or biological and chemical reactions proceed concurrently. Comprehensive volatile profiling defines the resulting chemical phenotype, whereas molecular sensory and flavoromics identify aroma-active endpoints. This framework provides a mechanistic basis for interpreting LAB-associated VFC formation and guiding strain and process selection toward targeted aroma regulation. Full article

The bioactive flavonoid compound anthocyanin that is present in berries and other pigmented fruits has received interest for effects on substrate oxidation during exercise. The databases MEDLINE (via PubMed) and SPORTDiscus (via EBSCOhost) were searched from 4 March to 5 August 2026 for trials examining the exercise-induced metabolic effects of anthocyanin-rich foods and supplements. Twenty-three studies were included in this narrative review with observations from blackcurrant, blueberry, tart cherry, blackberry and elderberry. After short-term supplementation (up to 14 days), extract from New Zealand grown blackcurrants provided the strongest evidence, with many studies reporting up to 30% increases in fat oxidation and typically ~5–12% decreases in carbohydrate oxidation during continuous moderate-intensity exercise (cycling, walking and running). The exercise-induced metabolic responses appear to be influenced by the baseline respiratory exchange ratio, body composition, duration of dosing, and environmental exercise conditions. The findings for effects from other anthocyanin-rich sources were few and less clear. New Zealand blackcurrant extract increases moderate-intensity exercise-induced fat oxidation without alteration of the total energy expenditure. Mechanistic evidence for blackcurrant-induced effects suggests altered intramuscular triglyceride use and glycogen availability. Information from other anthocyanin-rich sources is limited for now. It cannot be excluded, however, that the changes in exercise-induced substrate oxidation may be anthocyanin-type (and thus berry) dependent, but more studies are needed on other anthocyanin-rich non-blackcurrant sources. Future studies are required to confirm mechanisms. And studies with experimental design and methodology are needed to examine responsiveness and the factors that may play a role, such as training status, exercise modality, age, and habitual diet, to advance our understanding for the implications of anthocyanin-rich supplementation for sport and exercise nutrition. Full article

Coastal alpine glaciers across the Gulf of Alaska are receding at an accelerated rate due to climate change, and glacial meltwater is supplying downstream environments with significant inputs of dissolved organic matter (DOM). DOM plays a critical role in aquatic ecosystems by fueling microbial metabolism and influencing nutrient cycling and trace metal transport. In this study, we investigated seasonal DOM composition across four watersheds spanning a 30 km transect, with glacial coverages ranging from 0 to 60%. Stream and shallow groundwater samples were collected in July and September 2023 to capture DOM seasonality, from peak summer glacier ice melt to the onset of autumn. Using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–Orbitrap mass spectrometry, we found that watersheds with large glacial coverage were associated with elevated relative abundances of aliphatic, carbohydrate-, and lipid-like DOM, classes providing an estimate for the bioavailability present in streams. While dissolved organic carbon concentrations were low in these watersheds, the estimated yield of molecularly labile carbon exported to coastal margin ecosystems increased with watershed glaciation. In a glacier-containing watershed, shallow groundwater DOM exhibited declining putative bioavailability with increasing distance from a proximal glacial stream along the aquifer flow path from the stream to the coast. Across the four stream systems, stream water DOM composition showed less variability between sites during peak ice melt in July, when molecularly labile DOM export from glaciers was hypothesized to be the highest. These findings pair with existing hydrogeochemical studies in the region to build a defined framework of seasonal nutrient flux to nearshore marine environments and create a baseline for future DOM studies in the Gulf of Alaska and beyond. Full article

Background: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer, but resistance and recurrence remain major clinical challenges. Tumor immune–metabolic reprogramming profoundly affects treatment response and immune evasion; however, the molecular mechanisms of lipid metabolism remodeling and its interaction with T cells after CCRT in cervical cancer are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate how CCRT-induced metabolic changes in cervical cancer cells influence T cell function and immune evasion. Methods: We performed metabolic pathway activity analysis, cell–cell communication prediction, and transcriptomic analysis on paired single-cell transcriptomic data from three cervical cancer patients before and after CCRT (n = 3 paired). Validation was conducted using multiple independent GEO cohorts, in vitro cell culture experiments, and multi-sample immunofluorescence staining. Results: CCRT was associated with upregulation of FABP4/5 in malignant epithelial cells and activation of the PPAR and adipocytokine signaling pathways, leading to lipid metabolic reprogramming. Epithelial cells with high FABP4/5 expression showed enhanced predicted intercellular communication with T cells via the computationally inferred ligand–receptor axes PTGER4 and CXCR4. T cells with high communication intensity exhibited an immunosuppressive phenotype signature, accompanied by metabolic alterations in lipid and carbohydrate pathways and enrichment of regulatory T cell subsets. Validation experiments confirmed the association between FABP4/5 and inhibitory T cells. Conclusions: This study suggests that FABP4/5-mediated lipid metabolism reprogramming may represent a key mechanism contributing to the immunosuppressive crosstalk between cervical cancer epithelial cells and T cells after CCRT. Targeting this axis may reverse T cell dysfunction and provide a potential immunometabolic strategy to reduce post-CCRT recurrence. Full article

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) induces the Warburg effect in the Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp infected with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) to satisfy the energetic and biosynthetic demands required for viral replication. Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) is a key enzyme linking carbohydrate metabolism, lipid biosynthesis, and cellular redox balance; however, its role during WSSV infection remains poorly understood. In this study, the complete coding sequences of the cytoplasmic (LvGPDHc) and mitochondrial (LvGPDHm) GPDH isoforms were characterized from the hepatopancreas of L. vannamei, and their regulation by HIF-1α during WSSV infection was investigated. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses revealed that both proteins are highly conserved among crustaceans and contain the characteristic domains required for catalytic activity. WSSV infection decreases the mRNA expression of both GPDH isoforms and increases the cytoplasmic GPDH activity. In contrast, HIF-1α silencing increases the mRNA expression of both GPDH isoforms and increases the mitochondrial GPDH activity. The concentrations of glycerol-3-phosphate and citrate increase with WSSV infection and return to basal levels upon HIF-1α silencing. Results suggest that WSSV infection in white shrimp is associated with increased lipid biosynthesis via cytoplasmic GPDH, which contributes to viral replication, whereas mitochondrial GPDH may help maintain cellular redox status. Furthermore, these results demonstrate that the expression of GPDH isoforms is regulated by HIF-1, contributing to metabolic reprogramming in shrimp during WSSV infection. Full article

Selenium (Se) biofortification of microalgae is a promising strategy for producing functional biomass with enhanced nutritional value. This study evaluates the effect of sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃) supplementation to the culture medium on the biochemical profile of Limnospira platensis cultivated under intensive growth conditions with an elevated CO₂ concentration (3 vol.%). Two consecutive cultivation experiments were conducted using Na₂SeO₃ supplementations of 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg/L along with a control (0 mg/L). In the second experiment, biomass previously cultivated at 20 mg/L served as the inoculum to evaluate the response of a pre-adapted culture. Biomass productivity, protein, carbohydrate, lipid, pigment, CHNS composition, Se accumulation, and macro- and microelement contents were determined. Maximum biomass productivity (0.369 g·L⁻¹·day⁻¹) was obtained at 10 mg/L. The most severe disruptions to biochemical and elemental parameters occur at 80 mg/L. This concentration triggers a statistically significant reduction in protein content (down to 46.98% in the first experiment), an accumulation of mercury, an elevation in carbohydrates, and a corresponding shift in the C/N ratio. The second experiment demonstrated enhanced metabolic stability of the pre-adapted culture, including preservation of protein content under high selenium stress and normalization of copper accumulation, indicating the adaptive capacity of L. platensis to prolonged selenium exposure. The concentration of Se in the biomass grown under 0 (control), 10, 20 and 80 mg/L of Na₂SeO₃ was 0.5, 88.7, 394.0 and 762.0 mg/kg, respectively. Overall, a method for producing L. platensis biomass with a controlled Se content has been demonstrated. Based on these findings, Na₂SeO₃ concentrations of 10–40 mg/L are recommended for producing Se-enriched biomass, balancing productivity, nutritional quality, and elemental safety. The nutritional efficacy of the biomass obtained using this method should be the subject of future research. Full article

The rumen is a complex microbial ecosystem in which anaerobic fermentation determines the availability of energy and protein to ruminant hosts and influences feed efficiency, animal productivity, and environmental emissions. This review integrates current knowledge of host–rumen microbiome interactions with particular emphasis on microbial fermentation, nutrient utilization, feed efficiency, methane (CH₄) production, and sustainable ruminant production. We examine how dietary factors, including forage-to-concentrate ratio, carbohydrate fermentability, protein degradability, and lipid supplementation, alter microbial community structure, hydrogen metabolism, volatile fatty acid production, microbial protein synthesis, and nitrogen utilization. The review further evaluates microbiome-targeted strategies, including 3-nitrooxypropanol, red seaweeds (Asparagopsis spp.), nitrate, direct-fed microbials, and plant-derived bioactive compounds, with emphasis on their effects on fermentation pathways and methanogenesis; these strategies differ substantially in evidence base and mechanistic specificity, with 3-nitrooxypropanol supported by the most consistent mechanistic and in vivo evidence and several plant-derived compounds and direct-fed microbials showing more variable responses. Evidence from microbiome-wide and genome-wide association studies indicates that host genetics contributes to variation in rumen microbial composition and function, with potential consequences for feed efficiency and CH₄ emissions. Host-side determinants of the rumen environment, such as feed intake, digesta passage rate, saliva production, and epithelial and immune function, further shape microbial responses. However, responses to microbiome-targeted interventions remain variable because of microbial functional redundancy, dietary context, adaptation, and host-specific effects. We therefore discuss the major constraints limiting the consistent translation of microbiome research into practical feeding strategies and propose an integrated framework combining functional microbiome indicators, precision nutrition, host–microbiome-informed selection, and real-time monitoring. Understanding and manipulating rumen microbial fermentation through coordinated nutritional and host-based approaches may provide a pathway toward improving ruminant productivity while reducing the environmental footprint of livestock production. Among the strategies reviewed, 3-nitrooxypropanol currently has the strongest and most reproducible evidence base, whereas plant-derived bioactives and several direct-fed microbials remain promising but inconsistent, and validated on-farm microbiome biomarkers remain a major gap. Full article

Leucopaxillus giganteus, a wild saprotrophic fungus with high edible and medicinal value, has not yet achieved large-scale artificial cultivation. To elucidate the abiotic and biotic factors governing its growth, we analyzed physicochemical properties and bacterial communities of mycosphere and bulk soils from Shanxi Province, China. We observed geographic variation in the diversity, composition, and functional profiles of dominant mycosphere soil bacterial communities. Soil organic carbon, available potassium, altitude, longitude, and latitude were the key factors affecting mycosphere soil bacterial community structure. Distance–decay analysis revealed that the beta diversity of mycosphere soil bacterial communities declined with increasing geographical distance. Bacterial diversity in the L. giganteus mycosphere was significantly lower than that in bulk soil. Genera such as Micromonospora, Streptosporangium, Paraburkholderia, Pedobacter, Caballeronia, Paenibacillus, and Flavobacterium could act as saprotrophic helper bacteria in the mycosphere of L. giganteus. LEfSe analysis revealed 72 genera that exhibited significant abundance differences among samples from six geographic regions, including Bradyrhizobium, Sphingomicrobium, and Phyllobacterium. Functional annotation detected enriched pathways for transport and catabolism, signal transduction, and carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in mycosphere soil bacterial communities. These results advance our understanding of the ecological interactions of L. giganteus and support its artificial cultivation and sustainable resource use. Full article

Polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs; nominal diameter, 100 nm; unmodified and negatively charged) and imidacloprid (IMI) are common freshwater contaminants, but little is known about their combined toxicity in benthic fish. In this study, loaches (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) were exposed for 21 days to clean water, 100 μg/L PS-NPs, 78 μg/L IMI, or 78 μg/L IMI combined with 25, 50, or 100 μg/L PS-NPs. Each treatment contained 90 fish distributed among three replicate tanks. Survival, hepatic oxidative-stress indices, inflammatory gene expression, histopathology, and intestinal transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles were evaluated. Survival decreased across the co-exposure groups, with a significant overall difference among treatments (log-rank test, p = 0.0027). Hepatic CAT, SOD, and GSH levels decreased, whereas MDA increased, with the strongest changes observed in the higher PS-NP co-exposure groups. Pro-inflammatory genes, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, were upregulated, whereas IL-4 and IL-10 were downregulated. Histopathological injury of the gill, intestine, and liver was most pronounced in the NIH group. Transcriptomic analysis identified changes in pathways related to digestion, cell-cycle regulation, cholesterol metabolism, and lipid metabolism, while metabolomic analysis revealed alterations in glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid, fatty-acid, and carbohydrate metabolism. HMGCS1, CEL, CYP8B1, APOB, and APOC1 showed treatment-associated expression changes, with APOB displaying a non-linear response across the co-exposure groups. Overall, PS-NP co-exposure was associated with stronger IMI-related adverse responses under the tested conditions and substantial disruption of intestinal lipid homeostasis. Full article

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species that is harmful to agricultural crops. Therefore, the prevention and control of ZEN contamination is an important concern for food safety. Lactobacillus paracasei 85 is a well-recognized probiotic with considerable potential for mycotoxin biocontrol owing to its diverse probiotic properties and antimicrobial activity. Based on its reported potential, we aimed to evaluate its ability to degrade ZEN using degradation assays under optimal conditions. Transcriptome sequencing, untargeted metabolomics, and integrated bioinformatics analyses were conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying ZEN removal. Transcriptomic analysis showed that the strain activated central carbon and secondary metabolism during ZEN removal, and all seven differentially expressed genes closely related to carbohydrate metabolism were downregulated. Metabolomic analysis revealed that lipid and amino acid metabolism, in addition to carbohydrate metabolism, played important roles in ZEN removal. Correlation analysis between carbohydrate metabolism-related genes and their metabolites revealed that these genes were significantly associated with four metabolites: myo-inositol, guanosine, glycolic acid, and trehalose. As key nodes in the carbohydrate metabolism pathway, changes in the expression of these four metabolites and their interactions with genes may represent key regulatory factors responsible for the overall downregulation of carbohydrate metabolism. Full article

Chironomids are abundant aquatic macroinvertebrates with known pollutant tolerance, but the molecular effects of chlorantraniliprole (CAP) remain unclear. In this study, we exposed Propsilocerus akamusi larvae to LC₁₀ and LC₅₀ of CAP, sampled at 48 h and 144 h, and integrated biochemical assays, metabolomics, and transcriptomics to profile stress responses. Our results showed that CAP elevated antioxidant enzymes and protein carbonyls, indicating severe oxidation, especially at LC₅₀. At 48 h, LC₁₀ activated JNK-mediated antioxidative and drug metabolism pathways, whereas LC₅₀ altered glycolysis, cofactor biosynthesis, and fatty acid metabolism. At 144 h, LC₁₀ enriched proteasome and oxidative phosphorylation pathways; chaperones PaHsp70 and PaHsp90 were upregulated by 4.14- and 2.08-fold, respectively, and were negatively correlated with lipid and carbohydrate metabolites, indicating a metabolic shift toward protein repair. In contrast, LC₅₀ CAP triggered protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and TCA cycle dysregulation, with upregulation of PaCalreticulin linked to energy crisis markers, reflecting severe energy collapse. After knockdown of PaHsp70, the survival rates of chironomid larvae exposed to LC₁₀ and LC₅₀ CAP significantly decreased from 80.8% to 65.8% and from 43.3% to 28.3%, respectively. Collectively, our results revealed that low CAP concentrations triggered early detoxification followed by proteasome- and Hsp-mediated strategies to sustain protein homeostasis whereas high concentrations directly disrupted core metabolism and ultimately caused energy collapse and lethal ER stress in chironomid larvae. These findings provide mechanistic insights into the chronic effects of CAP on aquatic insects. Full article

Fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (FLHS) is a prevalent metabolic disease in laying hens, causing severe economic losses. A previous study showed that conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) alleviated estrogen-induced FLHS in chickens, but the mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we found that CLA improved serum lipid homeostasis, reduced hepatic lipid accumulation, and enhanced antioxidant activity in FLHS chickens. Transcriptome analysis identified differentially expressed genes enriched in inflammatory response, lipid homeostasis, carbohydrate metabolism, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)/insulin signaling pathways. Metabolome analysis detected differentially abundant metabolites enriched in bile secretion, thyroid hormone synthesis, the insulin signaling pathway, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. Integrated analyses revealed that CLA reshaped the hepatic metabolic profile by upregulating protective metabolites (such as ubiquinol) and downregulating pro-inflammatory/lipogenic metabolites (such as 15-hydroperoxyeicosa-8Z,11Z,13E-trienoate), which synergized with key gene regulation (fatty acid synthase, jun proto-oncogene, and fatty acid desaturase 2) and core pathway activity (MAPK/nuclear factor kappa-B inhibition, PPARα activation). The multi-omics study using an estradiol-induced rooster FLHS model elucidated the molecular regulatory network of CLA against hepatic steatosis and liver injury, and provided preliminary mechanistic clues for developing CLA functional additives to prevent and treat FLHS in commercial laying hens. Full article

Morels (Morchella spp.) are highly valued edible fungi, but their cultivation remains largely dependent on seasonal field conditions. In this study, we established a stable off-season industrial cultivation system for Morchella eximia G10 through precise environmental regulation, including substrate and ambient temperature, humidity, and irrigation management. Based on this controllable cultivation platform, integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted to explore developmental reprogramming from vegetative growth to fruiting body maturation. Metabolomic profiling was performed only at the reproductive stages, whereas transcriptomic analysis covered both vegetative and reproductive stages. Low-temperature stimulation was associated with marked increases in the expression of genes involved in cell wall remodeling, carbohydrate metabolism and stress responses, together with downregulation of genes annotated with oxidoreductase- and hydrolase-related functions. The transition to the primordium stage represented the most dynamic developmental transition and was associated with transcriptional regulation, cytoskeletal organization, and signal transduction pathways. Subsequently, distinct developmental trajectories were observed between pileus and stipe tissues, suggesting tissue-specific regulatory programs during fruiting body maturation. In the pileus, early amino acid- and nitrogen-related metabolism was coordinated with transcriptional changes, followed by a shift toward carbon and lipid metabolism. In the stipe, early development featured elevated aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and translational capacity, followed by later adjustments in carbon, sulfur and lipid metabolism. These results provide a tissue-resolved multi-omics view of developmental reprogramming during the cold-treatment-associated transition from vegetative growth to fruiting in Morchella under controlled off-season cultivation. By linking environmental cues with stage- and tissue-specific transcriptional and metabolic programs, this work provides additional insights into reproductive development and extends previous descriptive omics studies, while offering a molecular basis for optimizing environmental regulation and improving the stability of industrial morel production. Full article

Hispanics of Mexican American descent in South Texas show a very high prevalence of MASLD, with some studies reporting rates as high as 50% in adults. However, assessment of genetic risk factors underlying this prevalence is complicated by a high co-occurrence of other metabolic disorders and variable endogenous and exogenous environmental risk factors. To map the transcriptomic architecture of MASLD hepatic steatosis risk, we conducted an epidemiological-scale investigation using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived hepatocyte cultures from 193 participants in our longitudinal South Texas Family Study (STFS). iPSC-based models offer greater power to map genetic risk factors by experimentally controlling for confounding organismal and environmental factors. We combined transcriptome-wide gene expression analysis with high-content cellular measurements of neutral lipids to define a core hepatic steatosis MASLD phenotype at baseline (vehicle-treated) and following a lipid challenge. The additive genetic heritability of hepatic steatosis measures was 0.44 (p-value = 0.03) at baseline and 0.42 (p-value = 0.03) at post-lipid challenge. Multivariable linear regression comparing each gene’s expression against hepatic steatosis measures identified 1070 genes at baseline and 1229 genes post-lipid challenge, whose expression showed a transcriptome-wide statistically significant association (standardized |β| ≥ 0.24; Bonferroni-corrected p-value ≤ 0.001) with baseline and post-lipid challenge hepatic steatosis measures, respectively. Functional annotation and pathway enrichment analyses of these genes implicated a broad range of hepatocellular functions, mapping an overall transcriptomic architecture of MASLD-associated steatosis risk in Mexican Americans. The genes whose expression was positively correlated with hepatic steatosis measures suggest a direct role of variation in fatty acid (FA) and cholesterol uptake, de novo lipogenesis (DNL), and carbohydrate shunts in hepatic steatosis risk, as well as a cellular stress-associated and high-turnover metabolic state marked by elevated FA-oxidation and ketogenesis. In contrast, the genes whose expression was inversely correlated with hepatic steatosis measures suggest a significant role of the cellular cytoskeleton, hepatocyte epithelial integrity, and endosomal and autophagic clearance machinery in steatosis risk. Full article