Figure 5.

Alcohol exposure altered the expression of FGF21 pathway-related molecules in human islets and MIN6 cells. After 24-h exposure to ethanol (or vehicle), MIN6 cells or human islets were subjected to RT-PCR analysis of FGF21, KLB (encodes β-klotho), and FGFR1–4 mRNAs as well as Western blot protein analysis of unphosphorylated and phosphorylated (p) forms of FRS2 and ERK. (A,B) Standard quantitative RT-PCR showed that the ethanol group had elevated FGF21, KRB, FGFR1, and FGFR3 mRNA levels, compared to the vehicle control group. (C) Densitometric western blot analysis showed very significantly elevated levels of activated FRS2 (pFRS2/FRS2 ratio) and of activated ERK (pERK/ERK ratio) in the ethanol group compared to vehicle control cells. Data are means ± SEs of 3–6 separate experiments; *P<0.05, **P<0.01, and ***P<0.001 vs. vehicle group.