Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis is characterized by hepatic steatosis, elevated levels of
circulating free fatty acids (FFA), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and hepatocyte
lipoapoptosis. Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) death
receptor 5 (DR5) is significantly elevated in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and
steatotic hepatocytes demonstrate increased sensitivity to TRAIL-mediated cell death.
Nonetheless, a role for TRAIL and/or DR5 in mediating lipoapoptotic pathways is …