Fig. 7

The downstream target of DHM-triggered AMPK activation was PGC-1α. For 24 h, HepG2 cells were transfected with AMPK-specific or scrambled siRNA. RT-qPCR or western blot were used to evaluate AMPK mRNA and protein expression. B HepG2 cells were transfected for 24 h with PGC-1α-specific siRNA (three pairs of sequences, designated siRNA1, siRNA2 and siRNA3, respectively) or scrambled siRNA. The mRNA and protein levels of PGC-1α were measured using RT-qPCR or western blot. Interference sequences with the highest silencing efficiency were selected to silence PGC-1α gene expression in subsequent experiments. Cells were treated with 0.5 mM PA for 24 h with or without DHM (10 μM) pretreatment after siRNA silencing of AMPK or PGC-1α. Western blot was performed for (C) p-AMPK or (D) PGC-1α. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01 vs. the Con group; ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01 vs. the PA group; ^&P < 0.05, ^&&P < 0.01 vs. the PA + DHM group