Fig. 4

TNF-α activates β-catenin and apoptosis in adipocytes under hypertonic treatment. A RT-qPCR analysis of the expression of Smad9, Esrrb and Sox2 in adipocytes receiving the indicated treatments. B Total cell lysates from 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated by EVs from isotonic or hypertonic adipocyte cultures were subject to western blot analyses of indicated proteins. Full-length blots are presented in Additional file 1: Additional file 2. C Total cell lysates from 3T3-L1 adipocytes in indicated culture conditions were subject to western blot analyses of indicated proteins. Full-length blots are presented in Additional file 1: Additional file 3. D Representative images of immunostaining of active β-catenin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes following control or hypertonic treatment. E Quantification of the intensity of active β-catenin staining in the nucleus of adipocytes following control or hypertonic treatment for 24 h. F 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with the indicated conditions for 24 h and the cell lysates were subject to western blot analysis of indicated proteins. Full-length blots are presented in Additional file 1: Additional file 4. G Representative results of annexin V/PI flow cytometry analysis of adipocytes receiving indicated treatments. H Bar graphs depict the proportions of cells in early-phase apoptosis in adipocytes receiving indicated treatment