Fig. 4. Effect of antagonizing circRNA_002581 in MCD-induced NASH mice model.

BALB/c mice were fed with SCD or MCD, and two groups of MCD-fed mice were, respectively, given tail vein injection of 5 × 10⁸ IU control or circRNA_002581 shRNA packaged Lentivirus once per 5 days from the beginning of experiment and were sacrificed after 4 weeks feeding. a Representative images of H&E staining of livers (scale bar: 100 μm) and the knockdown efficiency of shRNA targeting circRNA_002581 by quantitative real-time PCR. b intrahepatic TG contents, serum ALT, and AST levels. c Relative hepatic mRNA levels of TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β, and MCP-1 by quantitative real-time PCR. d Apoptotic cells in the liver were detected by TUNEL assay (scale bar: 100 μm). e ATP concentration in the liver. f H₂O₂ concentration in the liver. g Relative hepatic mRNA levels of circRNA_002581 and miR-122 by quantitative real-time PCR. Error bars represent the SD. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01.