Mechanism of KLF4 Protection against Acute Liver Injury via Inhibition of Apelin Signaling

Figure 2

KLF4 protects mice against CCl₄-induced acute liver injury. KLF4 (10 mg/kg) or GFP (10 mg/kg, control) plasmids were injected into the tail vein of mice 48 h before CCl₄ injection. Control mice were injected with olive oil vehicle (Veh) lacking CCl₄. The mice were sacrificed 24 h after CCl₄ treatment. (a) HE stained sections were produced from liver tissues of the Veh and KLF4 groups (magnification: ×400). (b, c) Serum ALT and AST levels were determined in the different groups. compared with the GFP group. (d–f) The mRNA expression of apelin, KLF4, and cyclinD1 was determined by qRT-PCR analysis of liver tissue from the different groups of mice. compared with the GFP group. (g) Crude proteins were extracted from the liver tissues and analyzed by Western blotting using anti-apelin, anti-cyclin D1, and anti-KLF4 antibodies. β-Actin was used as a loading control.

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