Fig. 4

The oxidative stress involved in PA-induced hepatocyte activation mediated by CD36. H₂O₂ levels and MDA levels in the livers of mice fed an NCD or HFD for 14 weeks are shown (a, b). *P < 0.05 versus the NCD group. Hepatocytes were incubated in serum-free medium containing 0.2 mmol/L PA for 48 h, and H₂O₂ levels and ROS levels were then determined (c). *P < 0.05 versus the PA(−) group. CD36-knockdown hepatocytes were treated with 0.2 mmol/L PA; after 48 h, H₂O₂ levels and ROS levels were measured (d). *P < 0.05 versus the NC group. Hepatocytes were incubated in serum-free medium containing 0.2 mmol/L PA for 48 h alone or with pretreatment of NAC for 2 h. The mRNA expression of Acta2, Vimentin, Desmin and TGF-β signaling pathway related genes TGF-β, Snail, Twist, and Zeb1 were determined by real-time PCR (e, f). *P < 0.05 versus the NAC(−) group. CD36-knockdown hepatocytes were treated with 0.2 mmol/L PA for 48 h in the absence or presence of H₂O₂ for 24 h. The mRNA expression of Acta2, Vimentin, Desmin and TGF-β signaling pathway related genes TGF-β, Snail, Twist, and Zeb1 were determined by real-time PCR (g-h). The protein expression of a-SMA and VIMENTIN were examined by western blotting (i). *P < 0.05 versus the H₂O₂ (−) group. All results are depicted as the mean ± SEM