Fig. 3: CXCL13 deficiency enhances liver recovery by promoting the HGF/c-MET pathway after PHx.

A Ratio plot of the changes in protein abundance in the serum proteomes of WT and Cxcl13^−/− mice at 36 h after 2/3 PHx (n = 3). B Relative levels of HGF mRNA transcripts in WT and Cxcl13^−/−- livers at 36 h after 2/3 PHx (n = 6). Statistical significance was made with the Mann–Whitney U test. C The correlations between the serum CXCL13 and HGF levels in patients post-LR were evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis. Correlations were calculated by the Spearman correlation coefficient (n = 34). D Diagram of the experimental model of WT and Cxcl13^−/− mice treated with or without HGF antibodies in PHx mice. E Liver/body weight ratios of WT and Cxcl13^−/− mice treated with or without HGF antibodies (n = 6). Statistical significance was made with the ANOVA test. F, G Representative immunofluorescence images of liver Ki67⁺HNF4α⁺ cells in the indicated mice at 36 h and quantification of the percentage of Ki67⁺HNF4α⁺ cells (n = 6). Statistical significance was made with the ANOVA test. H Western blot analysis of PCNA and Cyclin D1 expression levels in liver tissues from the indicated mice at 2/3 PHx, and the band intensity was quantified by densitometry (n = 6). Statistical significance was made with the ANOVA test. I Western blot analysis of the phosphorylation of c-MET (p-MET) and total c-MET in the livers of the indicated mice, and the pMET/MET band intensity was quantified by densitometry (n = 6). Statistical significance was made with the ANOVA test. J Diagram of the experimental model of WT and Cxcl13^−/− mice treated with or without the c-MET inhibitor crizotinib in the 2/3 PHx model. K Liver/body weight ratios of the indicated mice after 2/3 PHx (n = 6). Statistical significance was made with the ANOVA test. L, M Representative immunofluorescence images of Ki67⁺HNF4α⁺ liver cells in the indicated mice at 36 h and quantification of the percentage of Ki67⁺HNF4α⁺ cells (n = 6). Statistical significance was made with the ANOVA test. N Western blot analysis of PCNA and Cyclin D1 expression in liver tissues, and the band intensity was quantified by densitometry (n = 6). Statistical significance was made with the ANOVA test.