Fig 2: Palmitic acid overload upregulates mRNA levels of BMP2 in Huh7 hepatocytes. A Representative images of Oil Red O (ORO) staining and its quantification. B Hepatic BMP2 mRNA levels were determined by RT-qPCR and normalized to 36B4 gene expression. Data are expressed as fold increase and presented as mean ± SEM relative to control condition [1]. C BMP2 levels in the cell supernatant determined by ELISA. Data are expressed as pg/ml and presented as mean ± SEM. Experimental conditions: Huh7 cells treated with 750 μM palmitic acid (PA750) for 16 h (n = 3 independent experiments performed by duplicate). **p < 0.01 and ***p < 0.005, PA750 vs. Control (C)

Fig 3: Expression of BMP2 is increased within the liver of NAFLD patients. A and B Hepatic BMP2 mRNA levels determined by RT-qPCR and normalized to 36B4 gene expression. Data are expressed as fold increase relative to control condition [1] and presented as mean ± SD. C. Correlation in the study population of matched mRNA expression levels (BMP2 and CD36). Study population: Normal liver (NL) individuals (n = 75), NAFLD patients (n = 115: 56 NAFL and 59 NASH). *p < 0.05 and ***p < 0.005, NAFLD, NAFL or NASH vs. NL; ##p < 0.01, NASH vs. NAFL