Fig. 2: The hepatic inflammation and fibrosis preceded lipid accumulation in Nr5a2^HKO mice.

A Liver morphology of 32-week-old and 12-week-old Nr5a2^HKO mice and their littermate was examined. B Serum levels of LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol were measured in the 32-week-old Nr5a2^HKO mice model. N = 6/group, **P < 0.01, ****P < 0.0001. Data are presented as means ± SD. C, D RT-qPCR analysis was performed to assess the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism (C) (2 technical replicates), as well as inflammation and fibrosis (D), in the liver of 12-week-old Nr5a2^HKO mice model. N = 6/group, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ****P < 0.0001. Data are presented as means ± SD. E The expression levels of Tnf-α and Il-1β were determined by RT-qPCR in the liver of 32-week-old Nr5a2^HKO mice model. N = 6/group, ns, not significant, *P < 0.05. Data are presented as means ± SD. F Liver paraffin sections from 5-week-old and 8-week-old Nr5a2^HKO mice model were stained with HE and sirius red for histological examination. G, H Respiratory exchange ratio was measured in the 12-week-old (G) and 32-week-old (H) Nr5a2^HKO mice model. N = 6/group, data are presented as means ± SD. I Insulin tolerance test (ITT) and glucose tolerance test (GTT) were conducted on the 32-week-old Nr5a2^HKO mice model. N = 6/group, data are presented as means ± SD.