Table 1.
Comparison of Nlrp3 KO and Casp1 KO mice with wild type mice after 6 months on a high-fat/high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet
| Genetic Strain | Wild Type | Nlrp3 KO | Casp1 KO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genetic background | C57BL/6N | C57BL/6N | C57BL/6N |
| Diet | HFHC 1.0% Cholesterol |
HFHC 1.0% Cholesterol |
HFHC 1.0% Cholesterol |
| Number of mice | 12 | 10 | 10 |
| Body weight (g) | 46.2 ± 1.9 | 50.6 ± 4.4b | 45.6 ± 2.9 |
| Liver weight (g) | 4.3 ± 0.4 | 5.3 ± 1.0b | 3.8 ± 0.5b |
| Liver weight/body weight (%) | 9.4 ± 0.7 | 10.5 ± 1.2b | 8.2 ± 0.7a |
| Food consumption (g/mouse/day) | 2.9 ± 0.1 | 3.3 ± 0.2a | 2.5 ± 0.2a |
| Plasma levels (fasting) | |||
| ALT (U/L) | 382 ± 104.5 | 424.7 ± 163.1 | 391.6 ± 142.1 |
| AST (U/L) | 276.9 ± 78.4 | 309.0 ± 87.1 | 291.6 ± 117.2 |
| ALP (U/L) | 105.3 ± 17.9 | 147.0 ± 43.2b | 104.9 ± 25.9 |
| Cholesterol (mg/dl) | 303.1 ± 40.7 | 344.6 ± 59.0 | 328.4 ± 56.3 |
| Triglyceride (mg/dl) | 62.9 ± 12.7 | 69.3 ± 10.8 | 69.3 ± 13.3 |
| Glucose (mg/dl) | 348.1 ± 84.6 | 316.4 ± 39.0 | 377.0 ± 38.1 |
| Insulin (ng/ml) | 2.01 ± 1.33 | 4.93 ± 3.92 | 1.76 ± 1.22 |
| HOMA-IR | 37.9 ± 25.5 | 82.2 ± 62.5 | 33.9 ± 22.3 |
| HMW-adiponectin (mg/ml) | 1.49 ± 0.34 | 1.61 ± 0.67 | 2.16 ± 0.23b |
| Hepatic histology, n (%) | |||
| Steatosis grade | |||
| 0 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| 1 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| 2 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| 3 | 12 (100%) | 10 (100%) | 10 (100%) |
| Inflammation grade | |||
| 0 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| 1 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 1 (10%) |
| 2 | 11 (92%) | 6 (60%) | 6 (60%) |
| 3 | 1 (8%) | 4 (40%) | 3 (30%) |
| Fibrosis stage | |||
| 0 | 2 (17%) | 0 (0%) | 5 (50%) |
| 1 | 10 (83%) | 9 (90%) | 5 (50%) |
| 2 | 0 (0%) | 1 (10%) | 0 (0%) |
| 3 | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) |
| Sirius red staining (fibrosis), % area | 1.00 ± 0.64 | 2.00 ± 1.92 | 1.19 ± 0.70 |
| Hepatic cholesterol birefringence | Very common | Very common | Very common |
| Hepatic lipids (mg/ g liver) | |||
| Cholesterol ester | 78.5 ± 32.6 | 122.9 ± 42.3a | 106.2 ± 28.0b |
| Free cholesterol | 0.52 ± 0.47 | 0.62 ± 0.31 | 1.30 ± 0.45a |
| Triacylglycerides | 345.5 ± 72.2 | 295.2 ± 69.8 | 426.3 ± 67.3b |
| Diacylglycerides | 1.34 ± 0.27 | 1.46 ± 0.3 | 1.41 ± 0.25 |
| Epididymal fat (mg/ g fat) | |||
| Cholesterol ester | 0.52 ± 0.22 | 0.43 ± 0.14 | 0.39 ± 0.13 |
| Free cholesterol | 3.19 ± 1.12 | 3.48 ± 0.91 | 2.03 ± 0.44b |
| Subcutaneous fat (mg/ g fat) | |||
| Cholesterol ester | 0.23 ± 0.09 | 0.20 ± 0.09 | 0.16 ± 0.06 |
| Free cholesterol | 1.64 ± 0.83 | 1.51 ± 0.39 | 1.42 ± 0.34 |
ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; HOMA, homeostasis model assessment; HFHC, high-fat, high-cholesterol; HMV, high molecular weight.
a
t test P < 0.01 compared to wild type.
b
t test P < 0.05 compared to wild type.