From:  Sex differences in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: hints for future management of the disease
 

Sexually dimorphic hepatic genes associated with NAFLD

GeneFunction (s)Model (s) UsedFemaleMaleEffect (s)
JNKTranscription factor; regulate fatty acid oxidation; improve insulin sensitivitySHROB Rats↑↑↑Less severe steatosis in females
AMPKTranscription factor; regulate fatty acid oxidation; improve insulin sensitivitySHROB Rats↑↑↑Less severe steatosis in females
CD36Receptor; promotes fatty acid uptake into muscle and adipose tissues; fatty acid transport, β-oxidationSHROB Rats; FXR-deficient mice; C57BL6/J HFD Mice↑↑↑Less severe steatosis in females
PPARγTranscription factor; activates SREBP-1c, a master transcription factor that promotes de novo lipid synthesis (DNL)SHROB Rats↑↑↑More severe steatosis and inflammation in males
PNPLA3Enzyme; involved in the accumulation of lipid droplets; esterificationSHROB Rats; C57BL6/J HFD Mice↑↑↑More severe steatosis and inflammation in males
AQP7The main channel in facilitating the release of lipolytic glycerol from adipocytesC57BL/6 HFD mice, streptozotocin-induced DM rats↑↑↑Increase plasma glycerol levels in both sexes
AQP9The principal facilitative pathway in liver uptake of glycerolC57BL/6 HFD mice, streptozotocin-induced DM rats↓↓
(Expression and glycerol permeability)		↓Less severe steatosis and hyperglycemia in females
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SHROB: obese spontaneously hypertensive; ↑ increased; ↑↑ highly increased; ↓ decreased; ↓↓ highly decreased