Fig. 2

BAT in Il18^−/− mice spontaneously accumulates fat. a To analyze lipid accumulation in BAT from Il18^−/− mice during growth, histopathology was performed at 6, 12 and 48 weeks of age by staining with hematoxylin and eosin (a). Scale bars, 50 μm. b, c The mRNA expression of molecules related to differentiation and thermogenesis in BAT at 6 and 12 weeks of age. Data are presented as mean ± SD (n = 4–6 mice per group), *p < 0.05. Bmp7: bone morphogenetic protein 7; Cebpb: CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) β; Cidea: cell death activator CIDE-A; Dio2: type II iodothyronine deiodinase; Elovl3: elongation of very long chain fatty acids protein 3; Fabp4: fatty acid-binding protein 4; Fgf21: fibroblast growth factor 21; Pgc1a: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α; Pgc1b: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-β; Pparg: peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ; Prdm16: PR domain containing 16; Ucp1: uncoupling protein 1