PMC

Dynamic changes of Th17 and Treg cell-related cytokines in serum in mice with NAFLD. a serum TNF-α levels; b serum TGF-β levels; c serum IL-17 levels; d serum IL-23 levels; e serum IL-6 levels. HF vs. ND: *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01. HF + PPC vs. HF: #, P < 0.05; ##, P < 0.01

Dynamic changes of ALT, AST, TG, and CHOL in serum and liver TG and CHOL in mice with NAFLD. a serum ALT levels; b serum AST levels; c serum TG levels; d serum CHOL levels; e liver TG levels; f liver CHOL levels. HF vs. ND: *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01. HF + PPC vs. HF: #, P < 0.05; ##, P < 0.01

Frequency changes of splenic Treg and Th17 cells in mice with NAFLD. a frequencies of Treg and Th17 cells were detected by flow cytometry; b frequency of Th17 cells; c frequency of Treg cells in the three groups. HF vs. ND: *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01. HF + PPC vs. HF: #, P < 0.05; ##, P < 0.01

Increased mRNA expression of IL-6, RORγt, STAT3, and FoxP3 in mice with NAFLD. a levels of the relative expression of RORγt mRNA in liver; b levels of the relative expression of STAT3 mRNA in liver; c levels of the relative expression of IL-6 mRNA in liver; d levels of the relative expression of FoxP3 mRNA in liver; e ratio of RORγt/FoxP3 mRNA in liver from mice with NAFLD. HF vs. ND: *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01. HF + PPC vs. HF: #, P < 0.05; ##, P < 0.01

Pathologic changes of liver tissue in mice. a ND group at 8 weeks; b HF group at 8 weeks; c HF group at 16 weeks; d HF + PPC group at 16 weeks; e HF group at 24 weeks; f HF + PPC group at 24 weeks; g ND group at 24 weeks; h HF group at 24 weeks; i HF + PPC group at 24 weeks; j ND group at 8 weeks; k HF group at 8 weeks; l HF group at 16 weeks; m HF + PPC group at 16 weeks; n NAS score (a-f, H&E stain, magnification × 200; g-i Masson’s trichrome staining, magnification × 200; j-m Oil Red O staining,magnification × 100). n HF vs. ND: **, P < 0.01. HF + PPC vs. HF: #, P < 0.05