Figure 2

Inflammatory and anti-inflammatory biomarkers in left ventricular myocardium at the end of study period (n = 8 for each group). A) to E) The mRNA expressions of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 and leptin, indices of inflammation, were significantly higher in obesity group than in control and obese-reduction groups, and except for IL-1β, other were significantly higher in obese-reduction group than in control group. * vs. † vs. ‡, or * vs. †, p<0.001. F) and G) The mRNA expressions of adiponectin and interferon (INF)-γ, two indicators of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory biomarkers, were significantly lower in obesity group than in control and obese-reduction groups, and significantly lower in obese-reduction group than in control group. * vs. † vs. ‡, p<0.001. H) The nuclear factor (NF)-κB protein expression was significantly higher in obesity group than in control and obese-reduction groups, but it showed no difference in the later two groups. * vs. †, p<0.01. All statistical analyses using one-way ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni multiple comparison post hoc test. Symbols (*, †, ‡) indicate significance (at 0.05 level) among A) to H).