Fig. 7. An iron chelator DFP reduces ferroptosis but does not ameliorate steatosis.

a Schematic representation of experimental design illustrating the treatment protocol with deferiprone (DFP) in a HFHF-induced MAFLD mouse model. C57BL/6 J mice were divided into three groups: Chow, HFHF and HFHF + DFP groups. MAFLD was induced by HFHF diet for 16 weeks. Mice in HFHF + DFP group were given DFP by oral gavage (100 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹) for two weeks. b The body and liver weight in three groups of mice. c The Fe²⁺ levels in liver tissues in three groups of mice. d The mRNA level of Hamp in liver tissues in three groups of mice. n = 6 biologically independent experiments. e Immunohistochemistry staining and quantitative analyses of ferroptosis markers (ACSL4, ALOX15, Ferritin, Transferrin and GPX4) in liver tissues in three groups of mice. f The GSH levels in liver tissues in three groups of mice. g Oil red O staining showing the lipid droplets (red) in liver tissues in three groups of mice. h The mRNA levels of Pparα, Fasn, Hmgcr and Cpt1a in liver tissues in three groups of mice. n  = 4 biologically independent experiments. i Liver triglycerides and cholesterol contents in three groups of mice. j Representative immunoblot analysis of p-Akt, Akt, p-IRS1 and IRS-1 in liver tissues from three groups of mice. GAPDH was used as a loading control. The data were presented as Means ± SEM and analyzed by One way-ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs Chow; ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01 vs HFHF. NS no significance.