Fig. 1.

Egr1 is upregulated by pro-NAFLD stimuli in vivo and in vitro.

(A and B) Egr1 expression in the liver tissues of 12-wk male db/db mice and db/+ mice was examined by qPCR and Western blotting. N = 6 mice for each group. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. ∗p <0.05, two-tailed Student’s t test. (C and D) HepaRG cells were treated with or without PA (0.2 mM). EGR1 expression was examined by qPCR and Western blotting. N = 3 biological replicates. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. ∗p <0.05, two-tailed Student’s t test. (E and F) Primary hepatocytes were treated with or without PA (0.2 mM). Egr1 expression was examined by qPCR and Western blotting. N = 3 biological replicates. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. ∗p <0.05, two-tailed Student’s t test. (G and H) Egr1 expression levels in the livers of patients with NASH and healthy individuals were examined by qPCR. Linear regression was performed by GraphPad Prism (Dotmatics, Boston, MA, USA). N = 8 cases for each group. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. ∗p <0.05. ALT, alanine transaminase; Egr1, early growth response 1; NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; PA, palmitate; qPCR, quantitative PCR; TG, triglyceride.