Figure 4.

Link between dietary fiber, WAT and systemic inflammation and lupus pathology. Lupus-prone NZB/WF1 mice were fed a HF- or LF-diet. (A) Relative mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα and leptin was examined in gonadal WAT of 28 w old animals (n HF = 9 mice, n LF = 10 mice). (B) Serum concentrations of leptin and a panel of cytokines in 28 w old animals were determined by Plex assays (n HF = 26–35 mice, n LF = 30–38 mice). (C) 20 w old NZB/WF1 mice were treated over a period of 6 weeks with a mix of recombinant TNFα, IL-6 and IL-1β or PBS; determined was the increase in anti-dsDNA-IgG post- compared to pre-treatment as well as development of lymphoproliferation (spleen weight) and expression of CD44 on CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells post-treatment (n cytokines = 11–13; n PBS = 11–12). Results are expressed as scatter blots with mean ± SEM; each data point represents an individual mouse; p < 0.05 was considered significant, p > 0.2 is indicated as ns, not significant.