Figure 7. Pancreatic fibrosis and tumor development.

C57/GFP mice were treated with halofuginone or cerulein, alone or in combination, and untreated mice served as controls. After 8 weeks, pancreatic fibrosis was validated by Sirius red (SR) staining and quantified by image analysis. At that time, the cerulein and halofuginone treatments were terminated, and mCherry-labeled panc2 cells were injected into the spleen; after a further 2 weeks, mouse pancreas was photograph with the Maestro imaging system. Pancreas sections were stained with mCherry, annexin II, PCNA and anti-GFP antibodies, and positive signals were quantified. In the fibrotic tissue more stroma (GFP-positive) and tumors cells (annexin II–positive) were observed. Halofuginone treatment that lessens tissue fibrosis reduced both the tumor and stroma cell number. Results are means ± SE and columns with different letters within each experiment differ significantly (P<0.05).