Figure 4.

Challenge with tunicamycin in ob/ob mice increased apoptosis and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, and was associated with hepatic IRE1α and PERK activities. Mice were injected with TUNI (2 μg/g) 6 h before killing. (a) Serum AST (IU/l) levels were measured and the number of steatohepatitis foci was determined (n=5). (b) The number of apoptotic hepatocytes was monitored by TUNEL staining. Immunoblotting of active caspase-3, Puma and Bax was performed from whole-liver lysates. (c) Immunoblot analysis of the protein levels of active caspase-11, caspase-1 and IL-1β are shown (n=5). (d) Plasma levels of the cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and MCP-1 are represented (n=5). (e) The expression of ER stress proteins was compared in TUNI- and PBS-injected mice (n=5). Data are expressed as mean±standard error of the mean. Statistical significance from controls is denoted by *P≤0.05, **P≤0.01