Fig. 5.

LOX is significantly upregulated in hepatic stellate cells immediately after injury. Primary hepatocytes (Hep), Kupffer cells (KC), hepatic stellate cells (HSC), portal fibroblasts (PF), and sinusoidal endothelial cells (SEC) were isolated from livers of healthy rats, 2 days after CCl₄ injection, and 1 day after BDL. Cells were lysed for mRNA isolation immediately, and real-time PCR was carried out to determine expression of all 5 LOX family members: LOX, LOXL1, LOXL2, LOXL3, and LOXL4. All are expressed; however, hepatic stellate cells and, to a lesser extent, portal fibroblasts are the major producers of LOXs in normal liver and shortly after injury. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.005.