Fig. 3: ProAgio changes collagenase activity and decreases collagen cross-links in fibrotic liver.
From: Targeting integrin αvβ3 by a rationally designed protein for chronic liver disease treatment
Levels of MMP2 (a), MMP9 (b), TIMP2 (c), and TIMP1 (d) in extracts of liver tissues from mice treated with indicated agents were measured by ELISA, and are presented as fold changes compared with that of non-fibrotic mice. e Collagenase activity of extracts prepared from livers of mice treated by the indicated agents was measured using Colorimetric Collagenase Activity Assay Kit. Collagenase activity is presented as fold changes using the extracts from livers of normal healthy mice as reference. f RT-PCR analyses of α-SMA and collagen 1 (Col1A1) mRNA levels in liver extracts of animals under indicated treatment. The mRNA levels are presented as fold changes comparing to the control (non-fibrotic and untreated animals) as reference. g Immunoblot analyses of α-SMA (IB: α-SMA) levels in liver extracts of the individual mice (numbered on top of picture) under indicated treatment. Immunoblot of GAPDH (IB: GAPDH) is a loading control. h Representative images of immunofluorescence (IF) staining of α-SMA (Red) and cleaved caspase-3 (green) and the overlay of co-stains (Yellow) of liver sections from mice treated with indicated agents. Scale bars show 100 µm. Error bars in a–e and f are standard deviations of measurements of 10 mice. Normal in a–e and g and control in f are the mice without fibrosis induction and treatment. ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001.
