Fig. 1

S100A4 is mainly expressed by fibroblasts and macrophages in adipose tissue, and it is downregulated in HFD-fed WT mice. Groups of C57BL/6 mice and S100A4^−/− mice were fed a CD or HFD for 12 weeks. a S100A4 staining of WAT sections from WT mice (n = 3 per group). Scale bar, 50 μm. b Double immunohistochemical staining of S100A4 (green) with α-SMA (red) or F4/80 (red) in the WAT. Nuclei were counter-stained with DAPI (blue) (n = 3 per group). Scale bar, 50 μm. c The percentages of double staining positive cells in S100A4⁺ cells (n = 3 per group). d The mRNA levels of S100A4, PDGF (as a marker of SVF cells) and ADPN (as a marker of adipocytes) in SVF cells and adipocytes from adipose tissue of WT mice (n = 5 per group). e–g The mRNA levels of S100A4 in WATs, muscles and livers from WT mice fed with a CD or HFD (n = 3 per group). h S100A4 staining of WAT from WT mice fed with a CD or HFD (n = 3 per group). i The numbers of S100A4⁺ cells of each high power field (HPF) (×200) from WAT. CD normal chow diet, HFD high-fat diet. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01