Fig. 3
From: Biliary atresia-specific deciduous pulp stem cells feature biliary deficiency
Effects of BA-SHED transplantation on liver fibrosis in CCl4-treated mice. Mice were harvested 8 weeks after CCl4 treatment. a The graphs show the serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by colorimetry. b The graphs show the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin 2, smooth muscle, aorta (Acta2) and type I collagen alpha 1 chain (Col1a1) in livers by RT-qPCR. c Representative images of ACTA2 distribution in livers were detected by immunohistochemical analysis. Sections were counterstained with hematoxylin. d Representative images of the liver were analyzed by Sirius Red staining. e, f The graphs show the gene expression of fibrogenesis-related markers (e) and inflammation-related markers (f) in livers by RT-qPCR. E: Mmp2, matrix metalloproteinase 2; Mmp9, matrix metalloproteinase 9; Timp1, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1; Timp2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1. F: Il6, interleukin 6; Tgfb, transforming growth factor-beta; Tnfa, tumor necrosis factor-alpha. a–f: Control, olive oil-treated mice; CCl4, CCl4 treated mice; CCl4 + Cont-SHED, Cont-SHED transplanted CCl4 treated mice; CCl4 + BA-SHED, BA-SHED transplanted CCl4 treated mice. a, b, e, f: n = 9 for all groups. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.005. ns, no significance. The graph bars represent the means ± SEM. b, e, f: The results are shown as ratios to the control group (Control = 1). c, d: Scale bars, 200 µm