The present invention provides a method of reducing a subjects hepatic and plasma triglyceride levels comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical carrier and a compound that increases PHLPP2 in liver cells in an amount effective to reduce the subjects hepatic and plasma triglyceride levels.The present invention also provides a method of reducing a subjects hepatic and plasma triglyceride levels comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical carrier and a compound that increases free Raptor in liver cells in an amount effective to reduce the subjects hepatic and plasma triglyceride levels.The present invention also provides a process for determining the amount of free Raptor in a subjects liver comprising:a) obtaining a biological sample comprising liver cells of the subjectseparating free Raptor and mTORC1-associated Raptor in the sample andc) determining the amount of free Raptor in the sample.The present invention also provides a method of reducing a subjects hepatic and plasma triglyceride levels comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical carrier and a compound that prevents PHLPP2 degradation in liver cells in an amount effective to reduce the subjects hepatic and plasma triglyceride levels.The present invention also provides a method of reducing a subjects hepatic and plasma triglyceride levels comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutical carrier and a compound that inhibits Glucagon signaling in liver cells in an amount effective to reduce the subjects hepatic and plasma triglyceride
