Figure 7.

Hepatic HNF4α is required for ATF3 to protect against HFCF diet-induced steatohepatitis. A: Hepatic HNF4α mRNA levels in normal individuals and NAFL or NASH patients (n = 7–8). B–L: Hnf4α^fl/fl mice and Hnf4α^Hep−/− mice were i.v. injected with AAV8-ALB-Null or AAV8-ALB-hATF3 and then fed the HFCF diet for 16 weeks (n = 8). Plasma ALT (B) and AST (C) levels and hepatic TC (D), FC (E), TG (F), and FFA (G) levels were determined (n = 8). Liver sections were stained with picro Sirius red (H), and hepatic hydroxyproline levels (I) were quantified (n = 7). Hepatic TGH activity (J) (n = 7) and FAO in hepatocytes (K) (n = 6) were analyzed. cpm, counts per minute. L: Hepatic mRNA levels were determined (n = 7). All values are expressed as mean ± SEM. Two-way ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.