Spontaneous inflammation and collagen deposition in 1-year-old ace2 KO mice. Livers of 1-year-old ace2 KO mice (n = 10), wt littermates (n = 9), and ace2 KO mice treated with irbesartan (n = 8) were evaluated by Masson Trichrome staining (A). Activation of p38, c-Jun, and ERK was analyzed by immunoblotting using phospho-specific antibodies (B). mRNA expression of collagen α1(I), αSMA, TGFβ1, TIMP1, and TNFα was evaluated by qPCR. Data are presented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM); *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.