Endotoxin Engages Mitochondrial Quality Control via an iNOS-Reactive Oxygen Species Signaling Pathway in Hepatocytes

Figure 2

Mitochondrial quality control in hepatocytes following LPS stimulation is dependent on iNOS induction. Autophagy marker LC3 (red) is induced in hepatocytes in an iNOS-dependent fashion following LPS exposure in vivo (12 h exposure, (a)) and in vitro (12 h exposure, (b)). Inhibition of iNOS in hepatocytes with the chemical inhibitor 1400 W (10 nM, 12 h cotreatment with LPS) suppresses induction of mitochondrial biogenesis-associated genes Pgc-1α, Nrf1, and Tfam following LPS expression as measured by q-RT-PCR (12 h LPS exposure, (c)). PGC-1α is induced in cultured hepatocytes following LPS exposure in an iNOS-dependent fashion (red staining, 12 h LPS exposure, (d)). compared to untreated controls; ^# compared to LPS-treated alone. In immunofluorescent imaging, green staining is from cytoskeletal actin as measured by 488-conjugated phalloidin antibody.

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