Sodium butyrate attenuates high-fat diet-induced steatohepatitis in mice by improving gut microbiota and gastrointestinal barrier

Figure 6 Sodium butyrate improves inflammation and lipid metabolism in liver. A: HE and oil red O staining; B: TG concentration; C: Cholesterol concentration; D: Masson staining; E, F: The levels of serum and liver endotoxin; G: Fibrosis-associated gene expression of TGF-β, Smad2, Smad7 and α-SMA; H: Pro-inflammation-associated gene expression; I: Endotoxin-associated gene expressions; J: Anti-inflammation-associated gene expression; K: Lipid metabolism-associated PPAR-α and PPAR-γ gene expression. Gene expression levels are expressed as values relative to the control group. Data represent means ± SEM (n = 12 mice per group), ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 and ^eP < 0.001.