Fig. 6

Pathways and genes related to proinflammatory and profibrotic processes were enriched/upregulated in the NASH-STZ, and this response was prevented or reversed by insulin treatment. a Venn Diagram of differentially expressed genes. b–d Pathway enrichment in the individual comparisons (diet (b), hyperglycemia (c), insulin treatment (d)). e Heat map based on reference list of differentially expressed genes in human patients with NASH compared to patients with NAFL [39], here visualizing regulation of the same genes in CTRL, NASH, NASH-STZ and NASH-STZ-HI. All genes except the ones marked with asterisks (*) are regulated similarly in NASH-STZ- vs. NASH-hamsters when compared to human NASH vs. NAFL. f Heat map showing regulation of a panel of NAFLD candidate genes taken from [39]. Upregulation of genes associated with e.g. monocyte recruitment, inflammation signalling, ECM remodelling and stellate cell activation are seen in the NASH-STZ hamsters compared to CTRL, NASH and NASH-STZ-HI