Figure 1

Uptake transporters Slco1a1, 1b2 and Slc10a1 expression in livers of C57BKS and db/db mice (n = 8). A) Messenger RNA expression for Slco1a1, 1b2 and Slc10a1. Total RNA was isolated from livers of adult db/db and C57BKS mice, and mRNA was quantified using the Branched DNA signal amplification assay. The data is plotted as average Relative Light Unit (RLU) per 10μg total RNA ± SEM. Asterisks (*) represent a statistically significant expression difference between db/db mice and C57BKS control mice of same gender (p≤0.05). Number signs (#) represent a significant expression difference between genders, i.e. male and female C57BKS or male and female db/db mice. B) Slco protein identification and quantification by western blot in crude membrane fractions from livers of C57BKS and db/db mice. Proteins (75 μg/lane) were separated on 4–20% acrylamide/bis PAGE, transblotted, incubated with primary and secondary antibodies, and visualized by fluorescence. C) Quantification of western blots by using the Quantity One® software (Biorad, Hercules, CA). The average band intensity for C57BKS males was set to 100% and other groups were normalized to that density. Asterisks (*) represent a statistically significant difference between average band intensity as compared to that of C57BKS males (p≤0.05). Slco1a1 mRNA and protein expression were downregulated in both male and female db/db mice as compared to controls. Slco1a4 (data not shown) and 1b2 mRNA expression remained unchanged but Slco1b2 protein expression was downregulated in db/db females. Slc10a1 mRNA expression was upregulated in db/db females as compared to C57BKS females.