Fig. 3.

Upregulation of hepatic SR-BI mRNA and protein expression by OCA in the liver of hyperlipidemic hamsters. Hamsters were euthanized and liver tissues were isolated after 14 days of drug treatment. A: Total RNA was isolated from individual livers and relative mRNA abundances of the indicated genes were determined by conducting qRT-PCR and normalized to actin. Values are mean ± SEM of eight hamsters per group. B: Individual liver homogenates were prepared and protein concentrations were determined. Fifty micrograms of homogenate proteins per liver sample were resolved by SDS-PAGE. SR-BI and HNF4α proteins were detected by immunoblotting using anti-SR-BI and anti-HNF4α antibodies. The membrane was reprobed with anti-β-actin antibody. C: The protein abundance of SR-BI and HNF4α was quantified with normalization by signals of β-actin using the Alpha View Software. Values are the mean ± SEM of eight samples per group. * P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001 as compared with the vehicle control group.