Figure 5

Apoptic and anti-apoptotic biomarkers (n = 8 for each group). A) & B) The mRNA expressions of Bax and caspase 3 were significantly higher in obesity group than in control and obese-reduction groups, and significantly higher in obese-reduction group than in control group. * vs. † vs. ‡, p<0.001. C) The Bax protein expression in mitochondria was notably higher in obesity group than in control and obese-reduction groups, but it displayed no difference between the later two groups. * vs. †, p<0.006. D) The cleaved caspase 3 protein expression was significantly higher in obesity group than in control and obese-reduction groups, and significantly higher in obese-reduction group than in control group. * vs. † vs. ‡, p<0.005. E) & F) showing the mRNA E) and protein (F) expressions of Bcl-2 were significantly lower in obesity group than in control and obese-reduction groups, and protein expression of Bcl-2 significantly lower in obese-reduction group than in control group. * vs. † vs. ‡, or * vs. †, p<0.008. 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 F).