Lack of the Matricellular Protein SPARC (Secreted Protein, Acidic and Rich in Cysteine) Attenuates Liver Fibrogenesis in Mice (original) (raw)
Figure 5
Reduced liver fibrosis in SPARC deficient mice.
(A) Representative photomicrographs of liver sections stained with picrosirius red. SPARC+/+ mice show staining limited to periportal areas (left panel), while liver sections from TAA-treated SPARC+/+ mice exhibits marked portal fibrosis and portal-portal bridges (central panel) and those from TAA-treated SPARC−/− mice present weak fibrotic response (right panel). (B) Morphometric quantification of Sirius red stained area showing a significant attenuation of the fibrotic process in TAA-treated SPARC−/− mice when compared to treated wild-type mice. **p<0.01, Mann-Whitney test. (C–D) Quantitative data from qPCR analysis of collagen (COL1A2) and MMP-2 mRNA expression. *p<0.05, **p<0.01 versus SPARC+/+ TAA 10 weeks, Mann-Whitney test. (E) Representative pictures taken from liver sections of from SPARC+/+ or SPARC−/− mice, at 7 days after BDL. Original magnification 200X. PT, portal tract; CV, central vein. (F) Morphometric quantification of Sirius red stained area showing a significant attenuation of the fibrotic process in SPARC−/− mice at day 7 after BDL when compared to wild-type mice. **p<0.01, Mann-Whitney test. (G) qPCR analysis of collagen mRNA expression in SPARC+/+ and SPARC−/− mice subjected to BDL. *p<0.05, versus BDL SPARC+/+ Mann-Whitney test.