Figure 5.

(A) Expression of HMGR and SREBP2 was increased in the LF and LF+ group compared with HF and HF+, while an increase in LDLR expression was detected in the LF and LF+ group compared to HF after 28 weeks. LF+ had increased CYP7A1 expression compared to HF, HF+ and LF at Week 28. No differences were detected in the expression of bile acid transporters, ABCG5 and ABCG8, at any time point. (B) Compared to HF, a decrease in expression of IL-8 and MCP-1 was only detected in the LF+ group. LF and LF+ were both different in IL-8 and MCP-1 expression compared to HF+, after 28 weeks. At Week 28, TNF-α expression was reduced in the LF and LF+ group compared to HF+, although a non-significant decrease, compared to HF, could also be observed. (C) After 24 weeks, LF+ showed reduced expression in TGF-β compared to HF and HF+, with increased reduction after 28 weeks and LF was reduced compared to HF+ after 28 weeks. LF and LF+ both showed reduction in Col1a1 expression after 28 weeks, with increased significance in the LF+ group. LF+ also showed reduction in Col1a1 after 24 weeks, compared to HF. α-sma expression in LF+ was reduced after 24 weeks compared to HF and after 28 weeks compared to HF+. Data are presented as means with ranges expressed as fold-changes relative to HF. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, compared to HF; # p < 0.05, ## p < 0.01, ### p < 0.001, #### p < 0.0001; compared to HF+. †† p < 0.01 compared to LF; n = 6–8 (n = 6 for HF for all genes due to practical measures and to avoid plate to plate variation in the qPCR assay). HMGR, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase; LDLR, low-density lipoprotein receptor; SREBP2, sterol regulatory element binding protein 2; ABCG5 and -8, ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 5/8; CYP7A1, cytochrome P450 7A1; IL-8, interleukin-8; MCP-1, monocyte chemotactic protein 1; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor α; TGF-β, transforming growth factor β; Col1a1, collagen 1; α-sma, α smooth muscle actin.