Fig. 3
Elk-1 phosphorylation at Ser383 is involved in asprosin-induced up-regulation of ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression. A–E THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells were treated with LV-Mock or LV-Asprosin for 72 h (n = 3). A Detection of LXRα expression using qRT-PCR and western blot. B The expression of PCSK9 was measured by using qRT-PCR and western blot. C The mRNA and protein levels of Elk-1 were determined by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. D Western blot analysis of Elk-1 protein expression in the cytoplasm and nucleus. E Measurement of Elk-1 phosphorylation at Ser383, Ser389 and Thr417 by western blot. F–H THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells were transfected with Elk-1S383A through lentiviral vector for 72 h, followed by treatment with or without LV-Asprosin for another 72 h (n = 3). F The qRT-PCR and western blot analyses of ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression. G, H Representative fluorescent images of NBD-cholesterol burden along with quantitative analyses of cholesterol efflux mediated by apoA-I and HDL. Data shown are mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001. NS indicates not significant