Fig. 1

Plin5 deficiency aggravated HCV NS5A-induced hepatic injuries. Adenovirus containing NS5A (Ad-NS5A) or the control adenovirus (Ad-Null) were administrated to the wild-type and Plin5-null mice through tail veins respectively (n = 4). After 1 week, their livers were removed and the bloods were collected. a The expression of NS5A, Plin5 and ATGL in the livers was analysed by immunoblotting. b H&E staining showed that NS5A induced more severe hepatic injuries and more inflammatory cell infiltration in the Plin5-null livers than in wild-type livers. Scale bar = 50 μm. c & d Immunohistochemical staining indicated that NS5A significantly increased the infiltration of F4/80-positive macrophages (c) and CD3-positive T lymphocytes (d) in Plin5-null livers compared to that observed in wild-type livers. Scale bar = 50 μm. e & f The levels of IL-2 (e) and TNFα (f) in mouse sera were analysed by ELISA kits. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. Data are means ± SEs for triplicate samples for each representative experiment