Fig. 8: NIK inhibitor treatment ameliorates DDC-induced ductular reaction and liver injury.

A HEK293 cells were cotransfected with NF-κB2 and NIK expression plasmids and treated with C33. Cell extracts were immunoblotted with antibodies to NF-κB2 and NIK. B HEK293 cells were cotransfected with NF-κB luciferase reporter and NIK expression plasmids and treated with C33. Luciferase activity was assessed 48 h after C33 treatment (n = 3 repeats per group). C–E C57BL/6 J males were treated with DDC and C33 for 3 weeks. C Plasma ALT, ALP, and total bilirubin levels (n = 8 mice per group). D, E Liver sections were immunostained with the indicated antibodies. D Representative liver images. Scale bar: 200 μm. E K19⁺ and MPO⁺ cells were counted and normalized to total liver cells. Sirius red and αSMA HSC areas were normalized to total areas. K19, MPO, and αSMA: n = 8 mice per group, Sirius red: n = 4 mice per group. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, 2-tailed student’s t-test (E) and 1-way (B) or 2-way (C) ANOVA. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.