{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]],"date-time":"2026-06-24T13:46:11Z","timestamp":1782308771726,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,31]],"date-time":"2026-05-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1780185600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]],"date-time":"2026-06-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1782259200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":24,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100014269","name":"Uniwersytet Medyczny w Bia\u0142ymstoku","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["B.SUB.26.392"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["B.SUB.26.392"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100014269","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100005297","name":"Uniwersytet Medyczny w Bialymstoku","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["B.SUB.25.397"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["B.SUB.25.397"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100005297","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sci Rep"],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>\n                    The number of individuals suffering from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has increased. The worldwide occurrence of fatty liver diseases is estimated to affect between 30% and 38% of adults from all races, ethnic group and sex in diet dependent manner, positioning these conditions as leading causes of chronic liver diseases. It is crucial to identify a natural substance that can safeguard against alterations in the lipid balance. There is a significant amount of research indicating that n-acetylcysteine (NAC) helps prevent inflammation and lipid deposition in peripheral tissues. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of NAC on lipid metabolism and fatty acid composition in the liver of rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). An experiment was conducted on male Wistar rats that received a standard diet or an HFD, divided into 4 groups (\n                    <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u20096). Half of the rats from the Control and HFD groups received and intragastrically NAC solution. After 8 weeks of experimental procedures, rats were anaesthetized, and the liver tissue was used for further analysis. Gas-liquid chromatography was used to determine the content of total lipid fractions and fatty acid composition in each fraction. Western blot and real-time PCR methods were used to measure the expression of protein or mRNA of fatty acid (FA) transporters and enzymes that regulated lipid metabolism. NAC decreased FA transport into hepatocytes by a decline in the expression of FATP2, FABPpm, and CD36. Supplementation of NAC also significantly reduced elongation of C16:0, PA to C18:0 and enlarged the C20:0\/C18:0 elongation ratio with simultaneous enhancement in C20:5 n-3, EPA and C22:6 n-3, DHA levels. Based on our results, we concluded that NAC point anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving properties, suggesting its potential role in the limitation of the development of simple steatosis changes by altering lipid disruption in rats receiving a high-fat diet.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-026-55583-w","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,1]],"date-time":"2026-06-01T07:40:15Z","timestamp":1780299615000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["New approaches of N-acetylcysteine on fatty acid transport and metabolism in a rat model of MASLD induced by high-fat diet"],"prefix":"10.1038","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Klaudia","family":"Sztolsztener","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Brintha","family":"Croos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Adrian","family":"Chabowski","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"55583_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1404","DOI":"10.1002\/hep.32774","volume":"77","author":"TCF Yip","year":"2023","unstructured":"Yip, T. C. F. et al. Geographical similarity and differences in the burden and genetic predisposition of NAFLD. Hepatology 77, 1404\u20131427 (2023).","journal-title":"Hepatology"},{"key":"55583_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1335","DOI":"10.1097\/HEP.0000000000000004","volume":"77","author":"ZM Younossi","year":"2023","unstructured":"Younossi, Z. M. et al. The global epidemiology of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH): a systematic review. Hepatology 77, 1335 (2023).","journal-title":"Hepatology"},{"key":"55583_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Lin, W. T. et al. Gender Differences in Healthy Eating Index as Informed by the Awareness of Diagnosis of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease. Livers 2025, 5(4), 61. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/livers5040061 (2025).","DOI":"10.3390\/livers5040061"},{"key":"55583_CR4","unstructured":"Girish, V. & John, S. Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (M\u0391SLD). StatPearls . https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK541033\/(2025)."},{"key":"55583_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Colaci, C. et al. Dysmetabolic comorbidities and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a stairway to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Hepatoma Res 10, 16. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.20517\/2394-5079.2023.134 (2024).","DOI":"10.20517\/2394-5079.2023.134"},{"key":"55583_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Deng, K. Q. et al. Role of hepatic lipid species in the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1152\/ajpcell.00123.2022 (2022).","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpcell.00123.2022"},{"key":"55583_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"679","DOI":"10.1161\/CIRCRESAHA.119.316337","volume":"126","author":"J Cai","year":"2020","unstructured":"Cai, J. et al. Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Pandemic Fuels the Upsurge in Cardiovascular Diseases. Circ. Res. 126, 679\u2013704 (2020).","journal-title":"Circ. Res."},{"key":"55583_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"903","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tem.2019.08.006","volume":"30","author":"Z Chen","year":"2019","unstructured":"Chen, Z., Yu, Y., Cai, J. & Li, H. Emerging Molecular Targets for Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Trends Endocrinol. Metabolism. 30, 903\u2013914 (2019).","journal-title":"Trends Endocrinol. Metabolism"},{"key":"55583_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"582","DOI":"10.1111\/liv.12685","volume":"35","author":"K Yamada","year":"2015","unstructured":"Yamada, K. et al. Characteristics of hepatic fatty acid compositions in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Liver Int. 35, 582\u2013590 (2015).","journal-title":"Liver Int."},{"key":"55583_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Raffaele, M. et al. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) Ameliorates Lipid-Related Metabolic Dysfunction in Bone Marrow Stromal Cells-Derived Adipocytes. Evid. Based. Complement. Alternat. Med. (2018). (2018).","DOI":"10.1155\/2018\/5310961"},{"key":"55583_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11095-016-1941-1","author":"Y Ma","year":"2016","unstructured":"Ma, Y., Gao, M. & Liu, D. N-acetylcysteine Protects Mice from High Fat Diet-induced Metabolic Disorders. Pharm. Res. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s11095-016-1941-1 (2016).","journal-title":"Pharm. Res."},{"key":"55583_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1185","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nut.2006.08.018","volume":"22","author":"RL Yang","year":"2006","unstructured":"Yang, R. L., Le, G., Li, A., Zheng, J. & Shi, Y. Effect of antioxidant capacity on blood lipid metabolism and lipoprotein lipase activity of rats fed a high-fat diet. Nutrition 22, 1185\u20131191 (2006).","journal-title":"Nutrition"},{"key":"55583_CR13","first-page":"8","volume":"8","author":"AP Simopoulos","year":"2016","unstructured":"Simopoulos, A. P. An Increase in the Omega-6\/Omega-3 Fatty Acid Ratio Increases the Risk for Obesity. Nutrients 2016. 8, 8 (2016).","journal-title":"Nutrients 2016"},{"key":"55583_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sztolsztener, K., Bzd\u0229ga, W., Hodun, K. & Chabowski, A. N-Acetylcysteine Decreases Myocardial Content of Inflammatory Mediators Preventing the Development of Inflammation State and Oxidative Stress in Rats Subjected to a High-Fat Diet. Int. J. Inflam. (2023). (2023).","DOI":"10.1155\/2023\/5480199"},{"key":"55583_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hodun, K., Sztolsztener, K. & Chabowski, A. Antioxidants Supplementation Reduces Ceramide Synthesis Improving the Cardiac Insulin Transduction Pathway in a Rodent Model of Obesity. Nutrients 13, (2021).","DOI":"10.3390\/nu13103413"},{"key":"55583_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"497","DOI":"10.1016\/S0021-9258(18)64849-5","volume":"226","author":"J Folch","year":"1957","unstructured":"Folch, J., Lees, M. & Sloane Stanley, G. H. A simple method for the isolation and purfication of total lipides from animal tissues. J. Biol. Chem. 226, 497\u2013509 (1957).","journal-title":"J. Biol. Chem."},{"key":"55583_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"386","DOI":"10.5114\/ceh.2023.133106","volume":"9","author":"K Sztolsztener","year":"2023","unstructured":"Sztolsztener, K., Dzi\u0119cio\u0142, J. & Chabowski, A. N-acetylcysteine acts as a potent anti-inflammatory agent altering the eicosanoid profile in the development of simple steatosis and its progression to hepatitis. Clin. Exp. Hepatol. 9, 386\u2013395 (2023).","journal-title":"Clin. Exp. Hepatol."},{"key":"55583_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e45","DOI":"10.1093\/nar\/29.9.e45","volume":"29","author":"MW Pfaffl","year":"2001","unstructured":"Pfaffl, M. W. A new mathematical model for relative quantification in real-time RT\u2013PCR. Nucleic Acids Res. 29, e45 (2001).","journal-title":"Nucleic Acids Res."},{"key":"55583_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Sztolsztener, K., Michalak, D. & Chabowski, A. N-acetylcysteine influence on PI3K\/Akt\/mTOR and sphingolipid pathways in rats with MASLD induced by HFD: a promising new therapeutic purpose. Mol Cell. Endocrinol 603, 112545. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.mce.2025.112545 (2025).","DOI":"10.1016\/j.mce.2025.112545"},{"key":"55583_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Zeng, X. F. et al. The role of dietary modification in the prevention and management of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: An international multidisciplinary expert consensus. Metabolism 161, 156028. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.metabol.2024.156028 (2024).","DOI":"10.1016\/j.metabol.2024.156028"},{"key":"55583_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Z\u00fa\u00f1iga-Hern\u00e1ndez, J. et al. Modulation of \u22065- and \u22066-desaturases in the brain-liver axis. Nutrition 131, 112629. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.nut.2024.112629 (2025).","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nut.2024.112629"},{"key":"55583_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"262","DOI":"10.1038\/ijo.2016.223","volume":"41","author":"S Heeb\u00f8ll","year":"2017","unstructured":"Heeb\u00f8ll, S. et al. Circulating sCD36 levels in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and controls. Int. J. Obes. (Lond). 41, 262\u2013267 (2017).","journal-title":"Int. J. Obes. (Lond)"},{"key":"55583_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12748","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms241612748","volume":"24","author":"M Vitulo","year":"2023","unstructured":"Vitulo, M. et al. Current Therapeutical Approaches Targeting Lipid Metabolism in NAFLD. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 24, 12748 (2023).","journal-title":"Int. J. Mol. Sci."},{"key":"55583_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"570","DOI":"10.1210\/en.2015-1866","volume":"157","author":"CG Wilson","year":"2016","unstructured":"Wilson, C. G. et al. Hepatocyte-Specific Disruption of CD36 Attenuates Fatty Liver and Improves Insulin Sensitivity in HFD-Fed Mice. Endocrinology 157, 570\u2013585 (2016).","journal-title":"Endocrinology"},{"key":"55583_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Falcon, A. et al. FATP2 is a hepatic fatty acid transporter and peroxisomal very long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase. Am J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab 299, e384\u2013e393. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1152\/ajpendo.00226.2010 (2010).","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpendo.00226.2010"},{"key":"55583_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3829","DOI":"10.2147\/DDDT.S386982","volume":"16","author":"Y Feng","year":"2022","unstructured":"Feng, Y. et al. Biological Mechanisms and Related Natural Inhibitors of CD36 in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver. Drug Des. Devel Ther. 16, 3829\u20133845 (2022).","journal-title":"Drug Des. Devel Ther."},{"key":"55583_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1009","DOI":"10.1002\/2211-5463.12240","volume":"7","author":"T Mukai","year":"2017","unstructured":"Mukai, T., Egawa, M., Takeuchi, T., Yamashita, H. & Kusudo, T. Silencing of FABP1 ameliorates hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress in mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. FEBS Open. Bio. 7, 1009 (2017).","journal-title":"FEBS Open. Bio"},{"key":"55583_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101185","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhepr.2024.101185","volume":"6","author":"F Carli","year":"2024","unstructured":"Carli, F., Della Pepa, G., Sabatini, S., Vidal Puig, A. & Gastaldelli, A. Lipid metabolism in MASLD and MASH: From mechanism to the clinic. JHEP Rep. 6, 101185 (2024).","journal-title":"JHEP Rep."},{"key":"55583_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1002\/biof.1992","volume":"50","author":"R Valenzuela","year":"2024","unstructured":"Valenzuela, R. et al. Protein concentrations and activities of fatty acid desaturase and elongase enzymes in liver, brain, testicle, and kidney from mice: Substrate dependency. Biofactors 50, 89\u2013100 (2024).","journal-title":"Biofactors"},{"key":"55583_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102441","DOI":"10.1016\/j.plefa.2022.102441","volume":"181","author":"LA Videla","year":"2022","unstructured":"Videla, L. A., Hernandez-Rodas, M. C., Metherel, A. H. & Valenzuela, R. Influence of the nutritional status and oxidative stress in the desaturation and elongation of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids: Impact on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Prostaglandins Leukot. Essent. Fat. Acids. 181, 102441 (2022).","journal-title":"Prostaglandins Leukot. Essent. Fat. Acids"},{"key":"55583_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Valenzuela, R. et al. Specific activity of mouse liver desaturases and elongases: Time course effects using n-3 and n-6 PUFA substrates and inhibitory responses of delta-6 desaturase. Biochim Biophys. Acta Mol. Cell. Biol. Lipids 1870(2), 159594. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.bbalip.2025.159594 (2025).","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bbalip.2025.159594"},{"key":"55583_CR32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3313","DOI":"10.1007\/s00018-018-2860-6","volume":"75","author":"DH Ipsen","year":"2018","unstructured":"Ipsen, D. H., Lykkesfeldt, J. & Tveden-Nyborg, P. Molecular mechanisms of hepatic lipid accumulation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 75, 3313 (2018).","journal-title":"Cell. Mol. Life Sci."},{"key":"55583_CR33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5762","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms15045762","volume":"15","author":"SM Kessler","year":"2014","unstructured":"Kessler, S. M. et al. Fatty Acid Elongation in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 15, 5762 (2014).","journal-title":"Int. J. Mol. Sci."},{"key":"55583_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1016\/j.repbre.2023.07.001","volume":"3","author":"Z Tang","year":"2023","unstructured":"Tang, Z. et al. Effects of dietary glutathione on growth performance, muscle quality and lipid metabolism of hybrid crucian carp (Carassius auratus cuvieri \u2640 \u00d7 Carassius auratus red var. \u2642) fed a high-fat diet. Reprod. Breed. 3, 89\u201398 (2023).","journal-title":"Reprod. Breed."},{"key":"55583_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3717","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms24043717","volume":"24","author":"E Talamonti","year":"2023","unstructured":"Talamonti, E., Jacobsson, A. & Chiurchi\u00f9, V. Impairment of Endogenous Synthesis of Omega-3 DHA Exacerbates T-Cell Inflammatory Responses. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 24, 3717 (2023).","journal-title":"Int. J. Mol. Sci."},{"key":"55583_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"706","DOI":"10.1194\/jlr.M400335-JLR200","volume":"46","author":"Y Wang","year":"2005","unstructured":"Wang, Y. et al. Tissue-specific, nutritional, and developmental regulation of rat fatty acid elongases. J. Lipid Res. 46, 706\u2013715 (2005).","journal-title":"J. Lipid Res."}],"container-title":["Scientific Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-026-55583-w","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-026-55583-w.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-026-55583-w.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]],"date-time":"2026-06-24T12:47:41Z","timestamp":1782305261000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41598-026-55583-w"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,31]]},"references-count":36,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]}},"alternative-id":["55583"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1038\/s41598-026-55583-w","relation":{},"ISSN":["2045-2322"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2045-2322","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,31]]},"assertion":[{"value":"19 November 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"25 May 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"31 May 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}},{"value":"All procedures on animals were conducted under the approval of the Local Ethical Committee for Animal Experiments at the Medical University of Bialystok (Approval No. 21\/2017).","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Informed consent statement"}},{"value":"All methods are reported in accordance with ARRIVE guidelines and carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Methods statement"}}],"article-number":"19570"}}