Fig. 4.

Caspase-1 deficiency in mice decreases VLDL-TG production without affecting VLDL-apoB production and increases hepatic steatosis. WT and caspase-1^−/− mice were fasted for 4 h and received injections of Tran³⁵S to label newly synthesized protein and Triton WR1339 to block lipolysis (n = 8). Blood samples were drawn at the indicated time points, and TG concentrations were determined in plasma of WT mice (open circles) and caspase-1^−/− mice (closed circles) and plotted as the increase in plasma TG relative to t = 0 (A). TG production rates were determined by linear regression analysis. At 120 min, mice were exsanguinated, and VLDL was isolated and assayed for ³⁵S-apoB (B). Livers were obtained from fed and 4 h-fasted WT and caspase-1^−/− mice, and lipids were extracted (n = 3). Triglycerides (TG) (C) and total cholesterol (TC) (D) were measured and expressed per mg protein. Plasma FFA levels (E) were measured in plasma from fed and 4 h-fasted WT and caspase-1^−/− mice. Values are means ± SD. *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001.