Fig 2: BZW1 phosphorylates eIF2α to promote macrophage glycolysis and ER stress. BMDM induced with Ova-IC were further treated with sh-CEBPB + oe-NC or sh-CEBPB + oe-BZW1. A The total protein level and phosphorylation levels of eIF2α in Ova-IC-treated BMDM. B The expression of ER stress-related proteins CHOP and GRP78 in Ova-IC-treated BMDM. C The protein expression of p-eIF2α, eIF2α, CHOP, and GRP78 expression in BMDM. D ECAR and OCR traces for BMDM. E The ECAR/OCR ratio in BMDM. F The glucose uptake capacity of BMDM was measured using a glucose uptake assay. G Glycolysis-related protein HK2 and LDHA expression in BMDM were measured using western blot. H Expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in BMDM by RT–qPCR. I Expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in BMDM in response to 4-PBA by RT–qPCR. Data are presented as means ± SD and representative of three independent experiments (*p < 0.05). Data were statistically analyzed using an unpaired t-test (E, F) or two-way ANOVA (A–D, G–I)

Fig 3: Overexpression of BZW1 overturns the mitigating effects of sh-CEBPB on LN in mice. MRL/lpr mice were further treated with sh-CEBPB + oe-NC or sh-CEBPB + oe-BZW1. A The protein expression of BZW1 in mouse kidney tissues was measured using western blot assays. B Expression of BZW1 in mouse kidney macrophages detected by dual-label immunofluorescence. C The creatinine levels in the serum of mice. D The ratio of urine protein to creatinine in mice. E The relative content of dsDNA in the serum of mice. F The IgG deposition in the kidney of mice. G C3 content in the serum of mice. H Histopathological analysis of kidney tissues of mice by HE staining. I PAS-positive deposition in the kidney tissues of mice. J Immunohistochemical detection of CD68 and F4/80 in the kidney tissues of mice. K CD11b+CD68+ macrophages in single cell suspensions of mouse kidney tissues analyzed by flow cytometry. L Expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in kidney tissues of mice was measured using ELISA. Data are presented as means ± SD (n = 8, *p < 0.05). Data were statistically analyzed using an unpaired t-test (A, C–I, K–L) or two-way ANOVA (J)