Changes in the content and composition of hepatic sulfatides a The amounts of hepatic sulfatides were measured in 3- and 16-month-old HCVcpTg and non-Tg mice. Sulfatides were prepared as lysoforms and determined by MALDI-TOF MS. The total amount of sulfatides was calculated as the sum of seven lysosulfatide molecular species (pmol/mg wet liver weight). Closed bars indicate non-tumor liver samples. Open bars indicate liver cancer samples. b The sphingoid composition of liver sulfatides in each group of mice. HCVcp, HCV core protein; HCC, hepatocellular carcinomas; LS, lysosulfatides; MK, MK886 (a PPARα inhibitor). Data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 6 for 3-month-old HCVcpTg mice; n = 6 for 16-month-old HCVcpTg mice without HCC; n = 5 for 16-month-old HCVcpTg mice with HCC; n = 6 for MK886-treated 16-month-old HCVcpTg mice without HCC; n = 4 for MK886-treated 16-month-old HCVcpTg mice with HCC; n = 4 for 3month-old non-Tg mice; and n = 4 for 16-month-old non-Tg mice). *p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01; comparison among sample groups for the Tg or non-Tg mice. #
p < 0.05; compared with non-treated age-matched Tg mice without HCC. §p < 0.05; compared with non-treated age-matched Tg mice with HCC