Fig. 6.
Transforming growth factor- β1 (TGF-β1) expression in WT and AT2−/− mice under normal conditions and after repetitive cerulein-induced pancreatitis. Mice were subjected to 3 episodes of acute pancreatitis (6 cerulein treatments per day every other day for 3 days) and euthanized 3 days after the last cerulein treatment. This resulted in increased TGF-β1 mRNA and protein in both WT and AT2−/− mice with higher levels in the AT2−/− mice. A: expression of mRNA was measured by real-time RT-PCR, normalized to ARP mRNA expression, and expressed as fold increase over the level in WT control mice. The bars represent means (n = 8), and error bars denote 95% confidence intervals. Confidence intervals were calculated using the ΔCt values before exponential transformation to fold increase in mRNA and are therefore asymmetric about the mean, *P < 0.05. B: TGF-β1 protein content in pancreatic homogenates was measured by ELISA. Values represent means ± SE (n = 5), *P < 0.05.