Fig. 2

Hepatic Bmp8a expression is upregulated in NAFLD mice. A Representative images of H&E and Sirius Red staining. NAFLD activity score evaluation (upper panel) and quantification of Sirius Red expressed as % of stained area (lower panel). B Hepatic mRNA levels of Col1a1 and Serpin1 determined by RT-qPCR and normalized to 36b4 gene expression. C Hepatic mRNA levels of Bmp8a determined by RT-qPCR and normalized to 36b4 gene expression. D, E, F and G Correlation of matched Bmp8a mRNA expression with NAFLD activity score, fibrosis stage, Col1a1 and Serpin1 mRNA expression, respectively. Experimental conditions: mice fed with HFD or CHD (control group) for 16 weeks (N = 5 animals per group). NAFLD, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Data are expressed as fold increase relative to control condition (CHD group, 1) and presented as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.005, HFD vs. CHD