FIG 2.

SHBs regulates hepatic gluconeogenesis in mice. (A) Western blot analysis (top) and immunohistochemical analysis (bottom) of SHBs expression in the liver of mice after 3 weeks of AAV8-SHBs injection. The glycosylated (gp) and nonglycosylated (p) forms of SHBs were indicated. (B) Blood glucose levels in AAV8-Control and AAV8-SHBs mice in the fed group and at 6 h and 16 h after fasting (n = 9 mice/group). (C to E) AAV8-Control and AAV8-SHBs mice were fasted for 16 h in GTT (C) and PTT (E) or fasted for 5 h in ITT (D). Blood glucose levels were measured at the indicated times after an intraperitoneal injection of 2 g/kg glucose (GTT), 2 g/kg pyruvate (PTT), or 0.5 U/kg insulin (ITT) (n = 10 to 12 mice/group). (F) Relative mRNA levels of hepatic gluconeogenic genes in the liver of AAV8-Control and AAV8-SHBs mice (n = 6 mice/group). (G) Expression of SHBs in pancreatic islets of AAV8-Control and AAV8-SHBs mice detected by immunofluorescence staining. The sections were immunostained for SHBs (red) and glucagon or insulin (green) as indicated. (H, I) The serum glucagon and insulin levels (H), and body weight (I) of AAV8-Control and AAV8-SHBs mice fasted for 16 h (n = 8 to 10 mice/group). (J) Hematoxylin-eosin staining on serial sections of livers (left) and serum ALT and AST analysis (middle and right, n = 9 mice/group) were performed between AAV8-Control and AAV8-SHBs mice. Data are presented as means ± SEM. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; ns, no significant difference.