Mismatched effects of receptor interacting protein kinase-3 on hepatic steatosis and inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Figure 1 Receptor interacting protein kinase-3 deletion exacerbates HF diet induced steatosis. A: Following 12-wk HF diet, the liver tissue hematoxylin & eosin staining showed increased steatosis in RIP3KO-HF group compared to WT-HF group. B-F: Liver TG contents were significantly increased in the RIP3KO-HF group compared to the WT-HF group. RIP3KO-HF group had increased steatosis and decreased lobular inflammation. G-L: HF diet fed RIP3KO mice had increased liver weight and liver/body weight ratio compared to HF diet fed WT mice. The RIP3KO-HF group had increased serum AST and ALT but decreased serum TG compared to the WT-HF group. ^aP < 0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test, compared to NC diet fed WT group; ^bP < 0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test, compared to NC diet fed RIP3-KO group; ^cP < 0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test, compared to HF diet fed WT group. HF: High fat; NC: Normal chow; WT: Wild-type; KO: Knockout; RIP3: Receptor interacting protein kinase-3; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; TG: Triglycerides.