English: Figure 1. Schematic representation of the molecular mechanisms involved in NAFLD onset. 1. Fatty acid uptake: fatty acids are introduced in the cell by specific transporters such as CD36, FATP2/5 and caveolins, which are controlled by PPARγ transcriptional activity. 2. De novo lipogenesis: the liver synthesizes fatty acids starting from acetyl CoA. This mechanism is controlled by ChREBP and SREBP-1c activity. The new fatty acid can be stored as triglycerides or exported via VLDL formation. 3. Fatty acid export: VLDL particles are produced by lipidation of apoB100 in the ER and then they are transferred to the Golgi apparatus for a second lipidation that is necessary for maturation and export. 4. Fatty acid oxidation: Fatty acids introduced from the external environment or produced by de novo lipogenesis can be oxidized to form energy by mitochondrial and peroxisomal β-oxidation and by cytochrome ω-oxidation. All these processes produce ROS.