Effect of BMP-9 overexpression on hepatic pro-inflammatory gene mRNA levels in mice fed the MCD diet for 4 weeks. BMP-9 overexpressing and wild-type mice were fed either the control diet or the MCD diet for 4 weeks. (A) Bar graphs presenting the results of the quantitative analysis of the mRNA expression of MCP-1, (B) TNF-α, (C) CCR2, (D) F4/80, (E) iNOS, (F) IL-1β, (G) IL-6, (H) IL-10, (I) IL-12 and (J) IL-17 in the liver tissues obtained from the 4 groups. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001, as indicated. Data are expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean (n=6 mice in each group). BMP-9, bone morphogenetic protein-9; MCD, methionine- and choline-deficient diet; ns, not significant; MCP-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1; TNF-α, tumor necrotic factor-α; CCR2, C-C chemokine receptor 2; IL, interleukin; iNOS, inducible nitric oxide synthase.