Fig. 6: TNFα inhibition alleviates BDL-induced muscle atrophy.
From: Liver fibrosis-induced muscle atrophy is mediated by elevated levels of circulating TNFα
a Experimental design of TNFα blockade by etanercept. b, c The muscle weight (b) and grip strength (c) of the BDL mice treated with PBS or etanercept was measured at day 7. d TA cross sections of the BDL mice treated with PBS or etanercept were stained for laminin α2 at day 7 post-operation. Right panels show magnified views of the boxed regions on left panels. e Myofiber CSA and the number of myofibers in TA of BDL mice treated with PBS or etanercept were quantified (upper). Myofiber CSA distribution in TA muscle is shown as a histogram (lower). f Liver sections of BDL mice treated with PBS or etanercept were subjected to immunofluorescence staining for collagen I and DAPI at day 7 post-operation. g The collagen I-positive area was quantified. h The hepatic expression levels of fibrosis-related genes (Col1a1, Col1a2, Fn1, Acta2, Ccn2, and Tgfb1) were quantified on day 7 post-operation of BDL mice treated with PBS or etanercept. i, j The expression level of Tnf in the liver (i) and the serum levels of TNFα (j) of the BDL mice treated with PBS or etanercept were measured at day 7 post-operation. n = 9 mice for PBS group and n = 7 for etanercept group (b, c, e). n = 5 mice for each group (g, h, i). n = 9 mice for PBS group and n = 5 for etanercept group (j). Data were analysed using the two-sided unpaired t-test. Scale bar, 200 μm (d) and 50 μm (f).
