Fig. 2.

Temporal patterns of profibrogenic gene expression during fibrosis reversal. Hepatic transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, procollagen-α1(I), tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-1, TGF-β2, integrin-β6, and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 transcript levels as quantified by quantitative RT-PCR. Note the rapid decline of transcripts that are primarily expressed by activated cholangiocytes (A) and the slow decline of transcripts that are characteristic of activated hepatic stellate cells/myofibroblasts (HSC/MF) (B) after RY-anastomosis. Data are expressed as means ± SE and in arbitrary units relative to β-2 microglobulin (β2MG) mRNA. *P < 0.05 compared with the sham-operated group; +P < 0.05 compared with the peak fibrosis group (BDL).