Fig. 7: EC-specific SCF deletion reduces SCD1 and attenuates the growth of lipid droplets in BAs at thermoneutrality. | Nature Communications

Fig. 7: EC-specific SCF deletion reduces SCD1 and attenuates the growth of lipid droplets in BAs at thermoneutrality.

From: Endothelial cell-derived stem cell factor promotes lipid accumulation through c-Kit-mediated increase of lipogenic enzymes in brown adipocytes

Fig. 7

a Diagram depicting an experimental procedure for the exposure of 8-week-old control (Con) and SCFi∆EC mice to thermoneutrality (TN, 30 °C) for 3 or 5 days, and sampling and analyses. b,c, Representative immunoblotting and comparison of c-Kit in BAT in Con and SCFi∆EC mice at RT or thermoneutrality for 3 or 5 days (RT5, TN3, or TN5). The same amount of protein loading in each lane is verified by immunoblotting of tubulin. Each dot indicates a value from one mouse and n = 5 mice for SCFiΔEC group in TN3 and n = 6 mice for other groups from two independent experiments. Vertical bars indicate mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001 versus RT by one-way ANOVA test followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test. Protein sizes are indicated as kilodalton (kDa). d–h Representative immunoblotting and comparisons of ACL, ACC, FASN, and SCD1 in BAT of Con and SCFi∆EC mice at thermoneutrality for 3 or 5 days (TN3 or TN5). The same amount of protein loading in each lane is verified by immunoblotting of tubulin. Each dot indicates a value from one mouse and n = 6 mice/group from two independent experiments. Vertical bars indicate mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 versus Con by two-tailed t-test. NS, not significant. Protein sizes are indicated as kilodalton (kDa). i Comparisons of the proportions of palmitate (16:0), palmitoleate (16:1), stearate (C18:0), and oleate (C18:1) in total FFAs of BATs between Con versus SCFi∆EC mice at the thermoneutrality for 3 days. SCD1 desaturation indices calculated by the ratio of 16:1/16:0 and 18:1/18:0 are shown. Each dot indicates a value from one mouse and n = 8 mice/group. Vertical bars indicate mean ± SD. *P < 0.05 versus Con by two-tailed t-test. NS, not significant. j, k Representative images and comparison of the populations of different sizes of lipid droplets in BAT from Con and SCFi∆EC mice at the thermoneutrality for 5 days (TN5). Scale bars, 20 µm. Each dot indicates the population (%) of a total of 1200–2400 droplets (100%) from three portions of BAT in one mouse and n = 5 mice/group from two independent experiments. Vertical bars indicate mean ± SD. *P < 0.05 versus Con by two-way ANOVA test followed by Sidak test. NS not significant.

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