Extended Data Fig. 3: Blocking VEGF instigates adipose whitening and prevents body weight loss in mice.
From: COVID-19 instigates adipose browning and atrophy through VEGF in small mammals
(a) Daily food intake of NI- and day-6-post SC-infected mice (n = 8 mice per group). Statistics on day 6 are presented. (b) Representative pictures of sWAT, and quantification of adipose tissue weights of non-immune IgG (NIIgG)- and anti-VEGF-treated NI- or day-6-post SC-infected mice (n = 8 samples per group). (c) Body weight and body mass index (BMI) of NIIgG- and anti-VEGF-treated NI- or day-6-post SC-infected mice (n = 8 mice per group). Statistics of body weight on day 6 are shown. (d) Histological and immunohistochemical analyses of sWAT of NIIgG- and anti-VEGF-treated NI- or day-6-post SC-infected mice by staining with H&E, Perilipin (PERI), UCP1 and COX4. Tissue sections were counter stained with DAPI (blue). Quantifications of UCP1 and COX4 positive signals in sWAT (n = 8 random fields per group). (e) mRNA levels of browning markers of Ucp1, Cox4, Cox7a, Cox8b, Cidea, and Prdm16 in sWAT of NIIgG- and anti-VEGF-treated NI- or day-6-post SC-infected mice were quantified by qPCR (n = 6 samples per group). (f) qPCR quantification of Hif1a and Car9 mRNA levels in sWAT of NIIgG- and anti-VEGF-treated NI- or day-6-post SC-infected mice (n = 8 samples per group). (g) qPCR quantification of Vegf mRNA levels in sWAT of NIIgG- and anti-VEGF-treated NI- or day-6-post SC-infected mice (n = 8 samples per group). (h) CD31 and Ki67 staining and quantification of microvessels in sWAT of NIIgG- and anti-VEGF-treated NI- or day-6-post SC-infected mice. Tissue sections were counterstained with DAPI (blue). CD31 and Ki67 positive signals of sWAT were quantified (n = 8 random fields per group). Data are presented as means ± s.e.m. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey multiple-comparison test. NS = not significant. NI = non-infected. SC = SARS-CoV-2. Scale bar = 50 μm.
