IL-33 expression constructs were HD injected into (A)
Il13−/− mice, (B)
Il4Rα−/− mice or Balb/c controls. Mice were sacrificed 4 weeks later and collagen depositions in livers were analyzed by Sirius red staining or hydroxyproline assay (n=10 mice/group; ***p<0,001;**p<0,01). Scale bars 200μm. (C) Representative pictures of liver tissue sections from healthy controls or patients with liver cirrhosis that were stained for IL-4Rα or IL-13Rα by immunohistochemistry (D) Detection of activated STAT6 by Western-Blot in whole liver lysates (top panel) or IL-13 stimulated HSC (lower panel). (E) HSCs were stimulated in vitro with rIL-13 for 4d. Cell growth was assessed using WST-1 assay. Control: medium alone (***p<0,001; *p<0,05). (F) HSCs were cultivated for 48h with or without the presence of 30ng/ml IL-13. Chemokines in supernatants were quantified by ELISA. Data are representative of at least 2 different experiments.