Figure 4.

Insulin can enhance TLR4 and PFKFB3 expression. Insulin was added into the culture medium of the cells. (A) TLR4 expression was enhanced as the concentration of insulin increased. PFKFB3 expression is also evidently promoted as the insulin added increased. (B) TLR4 and PFKFB3 expression were significantly promoted as insulin increased. (C) In the stable TLR4-targeted siRNA-transfected cell line HL-7702, only a very tiny promotion of TLR4 expression was observed as insulin increased. However, PFKFB3 expression was enhanced, as the concentration of insulin added was over 2 µmol/l. (D) Expression of TLR4 and PFKFB3 presented as histograms acquired by scanning the western blot results in (C).

NC, negative control; PFKFB3, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3; siRNA, small interfering RNA; TLR4, toll-like receptor 4 .