Fig. 1: BM-MSC transplantation attenuated CCl4-induced inflammatory levels and liver fibrosis.
A ALT release level in the serum of normal control mice and fibrotic mice transplanted with BM-MSCs or PBS (control). Serum samples were collected at 2 weeks post-transplantation (n = 6). B, C Liver tissue sections were stained with Sirius Red (B), and the degree of liver fibrosis was semi-quantified by Image software (C) (n = 7). Scale bars, 200 μm. D, E Immunohistochemistry staining of α-SMA in each group (D) and α-SMA+ areas were semi-quantified by Image software (E) (n = 7). Scale bars, 200 μm. F Quantification of col1α1 mRNA expression levels related to GAPDH by quantitative real-time PCR (n = 6). G Examination of hydroxyproline contents in livers at 2 weeks post-transplantation of BM-MSCs (n = 5). H Relative expression levels of il-1β, tnf-α, and pdgf mRNAs in livers of normal control and fibrotic mice transplanted with BM-MSCs or PBS examined by quantitative real-time PCR (n = 6). I Relative expression levels of col1α1 and acta2 mRNAs in HSCs, HSCs cocultured with Ly6Chi macrophages, and HSCs cocultured with Ly6Chi macrophages plus BM-MSCs examined by quantitative real-time PCR (n = 4). Ly6Chi M is the abbreviation of Ly6Chi macrophages. J Relative expression levels of col1α1 and acta2 mRNAs in HSCs cocultured with BM-MSCs or without BM-MSCs (control) were examined by quantitative real-time PCR (n = 4). Bars = means ± SD. Statistical evaluation of two groups was performed using an independent Student t-test. Statistical evaluation of multiple groups was performed using one-way ANOVA with posthoc LSD test; n.s. p > 0.05, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.
