Figure 2.

Autophagy protects against d-GalN/LPS-induced liver injury rapamycin+d-GalN/LPS-treated mice were administered rapamycin (2 mg/kg, i.p.) 2 h before d-GalN/LPS exposure (n=12); 3-MA+d-GalN/LPS-treated mice were administered 3-MA (10 mg/kg, i.p.) 2 h before d-GalN/LPS exposure (n=12); siRNA Atg7+d-GalN/LPS-treated mice were pretreated with siRNA Atg7 (3 mg/kg, i.v.) for 48 h before d-GalN/LPS exposure (n=12). Control mice were pretreated with vehicle (DMSO) 2 h before PBS injection (n=8). (a) Protein expression levels of Atg7 and β-actin were measured by western blotting. A representative blot for two samples from every group is shown. (b) The survival rate of mice was measured in the Atg7 siRNA +d-GalN/LPS-, rapamycin+d-GalN/LPS- and 3-MA+d-GalN/LPS-treated group and the d-GalN/LPS-treated group (10 mice per group). (c) Representative livers and H&E staining of livers from different groups. (d) Serum AST and ALT enzyme levels from different groups. (e) Gene expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were measured by qRT-PCR and the level of MDA was measured in livers from different groups. (f) TUNEL staining (red) liver tissue at 6 h after d-GalN/LPS administration. Representative of one experiment is shown. Original magnification × 200