Figure 2

Hepatic stellate cells from mice with steatohepatitis induced by CDAHFD are primed to become activated. (A) Hepatocytes from mice with CDAHFD induced steatohepatitis were steatotic while hepatic stellate cells were only slightly larger in size compared to those from healthy mice. After eight days of culture, hepatic stellate cells from early NASH became much larger in size compared to control stellate cells. (B) Hepatic stellate cells from mice with CDAHFD induced steatohepatitis more quickly increased in size and in expression of activation markers Colla1 and Acta2, visualized here just three days after the initial cell isolation. (C) Hepatic stellate cells from mice with CDAHFD induced steatohepatitis maintained higher expression of Col1a1 and Acta2 than those from control mice even after both populations were fully activated on plastic dish. Expression levels measured with qPCR. (D) Hepatic stellate cells from mice with CDAHFD induced steatohepatitis had elevated expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to those from control mice. Expression levels measured with qPCR. All data are presented as mean +/− SD (*P < 0.05). NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; CDAHFD, choline-deficient L-amino acid defined high fat diet; HSC, hepatic stellate cell; qHSC, quiescent hepatic stellate cell; acHSC, activated hepatic stellate cell; Col1a1, alpha-1 type I collagen; Acta2, alpha smooth muscle actin; ns, not significant.