Figure 5.

LXR-α silencing reversed the effect of CRO on the lipid droplet formation, and the levels of lipid metabolism-related factors in LPA-induced macrophages

(A-B) The protein/β-actin expression of LXR-α in RAW264.7 macrophages after transfection or LPA or CRO treatment was detected by Western blot. β-actin was used as an internal control. (C) The mRNA expression of LXR-α in RAW264.7 macrophages after transfection or LPA or CRO treatment was detected by qRT-PCR. β-action was used as an internal control. (D) The formation of lipid droplets in RAW264.7 macrophages after transfection or LPA or CRO treatment was detected by Oil-red-O staining (magnification × 200). (E) The levels of CE/TC in RAW264.7 macrophages after transfection or LPA or CRO treatment were detected. (F-K) The protein/β-actin expressions of PCSK9, CD36, ABCA1, p-AKT, and AKT in RAW264.7 macrophages after transfection or LPA or CRO treatment were detected by Western blot. β-action was used as an internal control. (L) The ratio of p-AKT to AKT was calculated based on the data of Western blot. ***P < 0.001, vs. LPA; ^##P < 0.01, ^###P < 0.001, vs. LPA+CRO-20+ siNC. siNC: small interfering RNA for negative control; siLXR-α: small interfering RNA targeting LXR-α.