Lipid accumulation impairs adiponectin-mediated induction of activin A by increasing TGFbeta in primary human hepatocytes

► Adiponectin induces activin A and lowers its natural inhibitor follistatin in primary human hepatocytes. ► Palmitic and oleic acid increase TGFβ in primary human hepatocytes. ► Impaired adiponectin signaling in fat loaded cells is related to increased TGFβ. ► Systemic adiponectin but not activin A and follistatin are significantly reduced in patients with fatty liver.