Fig. 4: ProAgio reduces collagen crosslinking in fibrotic liver.
From: Targeting integrin αvβ3 by a rationally designed protein for chronic liver disease treatment
a Representative images of Sirius red staining of liver tissue sections from mice treated with indicated agents viewed under polarized light, indicating cross-linked collagen. Scale bars show 100 µm. b Quantitation of collagen levels in Sirius red stain under polarized light using ImageJ software. The quantity of cross-linked collagen levels is presented as relative staining of sections from non-fibrotic mice as reference. Quantifications of Sirius red stains under polarized light were calculated from measurements of 10 mice. Four randomly selected tissue sections per animal and three randomly selected view fields in each section were quantified. c, d Immunoblot (c, Lysyl oxidase) and RT-PCR d analyses of LOX protein and mRNA levels in liver extracts of four and five mice treated by indicated agents. Immunoblot of GAPDH (GAPDH) in c is a loading control. The mRNA levels are presented as a relative ratio compares to mRNA levels of β-actin. e LOX activity in liver lysate and serum of five mice treated by indicated agents was measured by LOX activity kit. The LOX activity is presented as relative LOX activity of vehicle with respect to ProAgio by defining the mean value of ProAgio-treated group as 1. Error bars in b are standard deviations of measurements of 10 mice. Normal in a is the mice without fibrosis induction and treatment. *P < 0.05; ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001.
