Fig. 1

Effects of adipose-specific miR-146a-5p knockout on endurance exercise capacity, metabolism, and glucose homeostasis in mice. (a) The schematic diagram for the development strategy of miR-146a-5p-knockout mice. (b) aKO mouse WAT tissue gDNA PCR result with a sequence of only 200 bp. (c) The expression of miR-146a-5p gene in BAT, iWAT, and eWAT of Flox and aKO mice (n = 6). (d) Body weight (n = 8). (e) Body composition (n = 8). (f) Representative images of body imaging. (g) Representative images of mice. (h) Representative H&E staining of iWAT, eWAT, and BAT from mice (scale bar = 50 μm). (i) Tissue weight in BAT, iWAT, eWAT, GAS, SOL, TA, and EDL of mice (n = 7). (j) Running distance at low speed (n = 6). (k) Score of weight lifting (n = 7). (l) Muscle grip strength (n = 7). (m) Representative cross sections TA fiber immunofluorescent MyHC staining (scale bar = 100 μm). (n) Frequency histogram of fiber cross-sectional area (n = 6). (o) RT-qPCR analysis for Cyclin A2, Cyclin D1, Cyclin E1, PCNA, MyoD, MyoG, Fbx32, and MuFR in the TA muscles of Flox and aKO mice (n = 6). (p, q) The protein levels and statistical analyses of Cyclin A2, Cyclin D1, Cyclin E1, PCNA, MyHC, MyoD, MyoG, Fbx32, and MuFR measured by Western blot in the TA muscles of Flox and aKO mice (n = 3). (r, s) ELISA analysis for IL-6 and TNF-α in Flox and aKO mice (n = 6). (t, u) The O₂ consumption (VO₂) (n = 6). (v, w) RER (n = 6). (x, y) IPITT and IPGTT blood glucose changes in Flox and aKO mice (n = 8). Values are presented as means ± SEM, *P <0.05, and **P <0.01, according to the non-paired Student’s t-test or one-way ANOVA between individual groups