Fig. 5

C/EBP-β overexpression could rescue the inhibitory effects of RIFV on human white adipocytes. a The C/EBP-β plasmid was transfected into human white preadipocytes for 48 h, and then the expression level of C/EBP-β in preadipocytes overexpressing C/EBP-β was detected by qRT-PCR. b Human preadipocytes overexpressing C/EBP-β were treated with different concentrations of RIFV (NC, 10 μM, 50 μM and 100 μM) and cultured to mature adipocytes. The cells were then stained with Oil Red O and visualized under a light microscope (× 200). c The cellular triglyceride contents of mature adipocytes stimulated with 50 μM RIFV were measured. d The mRNA levels of C/EBP-β, C/EBP-α and PPAR-γ genes in C/EBP-β-overexpressing mature adipocytes treated with RIFV on differentiation day 4. Each value was normalized to PPIA. e Luciferase assay using human white adipocytes were transfected with a plasmid containing C/EBP-β-promoter gene and treated with 50 μM RIFV. Luciferase activity was normalized to renilla activity, and the relative luciferase activity was then compared to that of cells with scrambled control peptides. The data are expressed as the means ± SD of three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.