Figure 2. Total and lysozyme-expressing cell-specific loss of TLR9 protects against NASH.

WT (n = 5), TLR9-deficient (Tlr9-KO, n = 5), and Tlr9^fl/fl homozygous and lysozyme-Cre heterozygous (Lysm-Cre Tlr9^fl/fl, n = 7) mice were placed on a HFD for 12 weeks, and liver histology (steatosis, ballooning, and inflammation) was quantified (A and B). For total and lysosome-expressing cell-specific deletion of TLR9, there was a significant reduction in serum ALT (C) and reduced upregulation of inflammatory cytokines in whole liver (D) when compared with WT mice on a HFD. Original magnification, ×100. Data represent the mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.005, by Mann-Whitney U test.