Fig. 2

PERK knockdown suppresses IL-1β expression in HSCs. PERK is knocked down in LX-2 cells using siRNA, and the expression of PERK, downstream molecules of PERK, and IL-1β is examined. (a) PERK mRNA expression is evaluated using RT-PCR (n = 4). (b) Protein expression of PERK, p-eIF2α, and eIF2α is determined using WB. Supplementary Fig. S3 presents the original membranes of WB. IL-1β mRNA (c) and protein (d) expression are evaluated using RT-PCR (n = 4) and WB, respectively. Supplementary Fig. S4 shows the original membranes of WB. PERK-knockdown cells are treated with PA, and the change in IL-1β expression is verified. (e) IL-1β mRNA (e) and protein (f) expression are evaluated using RT-PCR (n = 4) and WB, respectively. Supplementary Fig. S5 presents the original membranes of WB. Data are shown as the mean ± SE. Statistical analysis is performed using Student’s t-test or one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test. **p < 0.01. Abbreviations: PERK, protein kinase R-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase; IL-1β, interleukin-1 beta; GAPDH, glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase; WB, western blotting; RT, reverse transcription; siRNA, small interfering RNA; HSCs, hepatic stellate cells; SE, standard error; PA, palmitic acid; BSA, bovine serum albumin; ANOVA, analysis of variance; p-eIF2α, phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 2-alpha; n.s., not significant.