ASCL1 and infection: The mRNA levels of PPAR target genes associated with adipocyte differentiation, including ADRP, FABP4, CD36, APOE, APOC1, ASCL1, were strongly induced in THP-1 cells at 6 or/and 48 h after infection by M. leprae but not stimulation by dead M. leprae, as showed by real-time PCR (Fig 1C).