Figure 7.

Adiponectin is required for PPARγ ligands to be effective in inhibiting stellate cell activation. Stellate cells isolated from WT and adiponectin knockout (ADNKO) mice were cultured in the presence of serum-containing medium for 24 hours. Cells were exposed to 5 μg/mL of the PPARγ ligand troglitazone, or an equivalent volume of dimethyl sulfoxide (vehicle) for 4 days, after which total RNA was extracted from lysates and mRNA expression of α-SMA (A), collagen α1(I) (B), CEBPα (C), SREBP1c (D), and PPARγ (E) was quantified by real-time PCR (means ± SE; n = 3). White bars indicate WT; black bars indicate ADNKO. *P < 0.05 versus WT cells exposed to vehicle alone; **P < 0.05 versus WT cells exposed to troglitazone.