This study provides direct support for the notion that steatosis sensitizes the liver to further damage and suggests an involvement of TNF-alpha in this process.

These results suggest that prolonged low-dose celecoxib treatment with ethanol enhances alcohol-induced steatosis and liver inflammatory reactions above that from ethanol or celecoxib alone. It is suggested that reduction in PGE(2) by treatment with celecoxib removes the endogenous protective effect of this prostaglandin.