Fig. 5.

The inflammasome is up-regulated in hepatocytes in NASH. Saturated FAs (but not unsaturated FAs) induce NALP3 mRNA expression in hepatocyte and macrophage cell lines. C57Bl/6 mice were fed an MCD diet or an MCS diet for 5 weeks, and primary hepatocytes were isolated as described in the Materials and Methods section. (A) The hepatocyte mRNA fold changes of IL-1β and the NALP3 inflammasome complex (including NALP3, ASC, caspase-1, and pannexin-1) were determined. (B) Serum endotoxin data are presented as means and standard errors of the mean (four to six mice per group). (C) Hepa1–6 cells, which were used as prototypes for hepatocytes, and (D) RAW macrophages, which were used as prototypes for macrophages, were exposed to the saturated FA PA (0.165 or 0.33 mM) or unsaturated FAs such as oleic acid (0.33 or 0.66 mM) and linoleic acid (0.33 or 0.66 mM). NALP3 mRNA expression was analyzed with qPCR. *P < 0.05 versus the control.