cytokine, which is consistent with similar macro-
phage infiltration in Flox and LAKO mice. Like-
wise,LAKOmiceshowednodifferenceingrowth
factorPdgfaand receptorPdgfraexpression
or matrix remodeling genes tissue inhibitor
matrix metalloproteinase 1 (Timp1) and dis-
coidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (Ddr2)
(Fig. 1P).We also fed mice with the Amylin (AMLN)
diet, which is used to mimic human NASH in
preclinical studies ( 2 , 17 ). AMLN also repressed
AMPK activation in C57BL/6J mice (fig. S2A).Zhaoet al.,Science 367 , 652–660 (2020) 7 February 2020 2of9
ADIOBEJ LPCFGHKM NND CD-HFDpAMPKαThr^172AMPKαFlox LAKO051015202530Body weight (g)Flox LAKO0100200300400ALT (U/L)Flox LAKO100120140160180200ALP (U/L)Flox LAKO0123Liver weight (g)Flox LAKO100150200250300TG (mg/g liver)Flox LAKO0100200300400500AST (U/L)H&E F4/80 Sirius RedFloxLAKOFloxLAKOTUNEL DAPI Merge
Green pMLKL
Blue DAPIFlox LAKO050010001500Hydroxyproline(ug/g liver)Flox LAKO051015Fibrosis (% area)Flox LAKO0200400600TUNEL+ cell/fieldPrkaa1 Prkaa20.00.51.01.5mRNA (A.U.)*
*
Flox
LAKOTnfa Ccl2 Ccr2 Il1b Adgre10.00.51.01.52.02.5mRNA (A.U.)Flox
LAKOCasp3 Casp8Ripk1 Ripk30.00.51.01.52.0mRNA (A.U.)Flox
LAKOTgfb Timp1 Col1a1 Col3a1 Acta2 Pdgfa Pdgfb Pdgfra Ddr2012345mRNA (A.U.)Flox
LAKOFig. 1. Liver-specific AMPK knockout exaggerates liver damage in NASH.
(A) Expression ofPrkaa1andPrkaa2in liver;n= 8 to 9 mice. A.U., arbitrary
units. (B) Immunoblot of liver lysate from ND or CD-HFD–fed mice;n= 3 mice.
(CtoP) Flox and LAKO mice fed CD-HFD for 11 weeks. (C) Body weight. (D) liver
weight. (E) Liver TG. [(F) to (H)] Serum ALT (F), AST (G), ALP (H);n=8to
9 mice. (I) Liver sections stained TUNEL (red) and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole
(DAPI) (blue) or pMLKL (Green). Scale bar, 50mm. (J) Quantification of TUNEL-
positive nuclei per field in (I);n= 7 mice. (K) H&E, F4/80, and Sirius red staining
of liver sections. Scale bar, 100mm;n= 7 mice. (L) Quantification of fibrosis area
(percent of total area) shown in (K);n= 7 mice. (M) Liver hydroxyproline;n=8to
9 mice. (N) Expression ofTnfa,Ccl2,Ccr2,Il1b,andAdgre1in liver;n=8to
9 mice. (O) Expression ofCasp3,Casp8,Ripk1,andRipk3in liver;n=8to9mice.
(P) Expression ofTgfb,Timp1,Col1a1,Col3a1,Acta2,Pdgfa,Pdgfb,Pdgfra,and
Ddr2in liver;n= 8 to 9 mice. Mean ± SEM; *P< 0.05, Student’sunpairedttest.RESEARCH | RESEARCH ARTICLE