Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 promotes the Warburg effect possibly by inducing pyruvate kinase M2 phosphorylation in liver precancerous lesions

Figure 2 The Warburg effect is initiated in liver precancerous lesions in rats. A and B: The glucose consumption and lactate production in the model group were elevated compared with those in the diethylnitrosamine (DEN) + partial hepatectomy (PH) and normal groups. C and D: Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis showed that pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) was highly expressed in the model group compared with that in the DEN + PH, acetylaminofluorene (AAF) + PH, and normal groups. Scale bars: 50 μm. All values are the mean ± SEM derived from three independent experiments (^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01). E: Immunofluorescence images showing that PKM2 was highly expressed in activated oval cells in the model group compared with the DEN + PH, AAF + PH, and normal groups. Scale bars: 75 μm. PKM2: Pyruvate kinase M2; DEN: Diethylnitrosamine; PH: Partial hepatectomy; AAF: Acetylaminofluorene; OV6: Oval cell 6.