Fig 5. Schematic representation of the effect of macrophage depletion during DDC diet administration.

DDC diet promotes a ductular reaction (DR) budding from resident bile ducts (rBD) chaperoned by laminin rich matrix. In PBS^Lipo co-treated mice (from day 7 onwards), a DR type II can be observed with CK19⁺ cells either forming amorphous bile ducts, clusters with pseudoluminae or rosettes, sprouting into the lobule. CLO^Lipo co-treatment (from day 7 onwards) preserves a type I DR, comprising confined ductular proliferates in proximity to the portal vein (PV). The newly budding CK19⁺ cells create more differentiated, bile ductular structures with regular concentric luminae.