Fig. 1: NTS signaling promotes MASLD.

A Expression of NTSR1 and NTSR3 in normal, MASLD and MASH liver samples from human patients (western blot); N = 5/group. Data were normalized to total protein expression (Brilliant blue stained gel). Quantitative analysis is shown on right. B NTSR1 and NTSR3 gene expression (qPCR) in human normal, MASLD and MASH livers. Data were normalized to β-actin expression. C Female Nts^+/+ and Nts^−/− mice were fed low-fat diet (LFD) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 28 wks. MASLD was confirmed by H&E-stained representative liver sections (10× magnification, scale bar=100 µm). D Liver weight, (E) steatosis score, and (F) NAS (NAFLD activity score) for Nts^+/+ vs Nts^−/− mice fed HFD. G Oxidative stress in livers was compared by measuring GSSG and GSH levels (ELISA). H Inflammatory gene expression (il1b and ifng) in liver (qPCR, normalized to β-actin). I Heatmap showing expression of significantly altered metabolic genes (qPCR) in livers (log₂fold changes, normalized to β-actin). N = 5 mice/group for D–G and 4 mice/group for (H, I). Data are expressed as mean ± SD, and p ≤ 0.05 is considered significant.