Figure 3: NRG4 suppressed chronic inflammation in EWAT and stimulated expression of thermogenic genes in BAT.

Mice were sacrificed after 9 weeks of HFD feeding. Fat pads including EWAT, SubWAT and BAT were collected and weighed. Adipose tissues were fixed in 10% neutrally buffered formalin and H&E staining was performed. Total RNA was extracted from EWAT and BAT and relative mRNA levels of selected genes were determined by real-time PCR. (a) Representative images of H&E staining of EWAT, SubWAT and BAT (100×); (b) Average size of adipocytes in EWAT and SubWAT (calculated from measurements of 200 adipocytes from 5 separate slides); (c) Weight of different adipose pads; (d) Relative mRNA levels of selected macrophage marker genes including F4/80, Cd68, Cd11c, chemotactic factor gene Mcp1, Adiponectin and Atgl; (e) Relative mRNA levels of thermogenic genes including Ucp1, Ucp3, Pgc1α, Cidea and Dio2. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 compared to that of control animals injected with pLIVE-SEAP (n = 5).