Figure 5. Increased myofibroblasts in TSC1 CKO Mice.

(A) Liver tissue samples from oil- or CCl₄− treated mice were analyzed for PARP, cleaved caspase-3, p-S6, and S6 protein by western blot analysis. Immunofluorescence (IF) staining were performed to evaluate the impact of TSC1 deletion on myofibroblasts proliferation and apoptosis. (B) Sections were stained with α-SMA (green) and p-S6 (red) antibodies. There were increased both α-SMA and pS6 positive cells in TSC1 CKO mice administered CCl₄. (C) Sections were stained with α-SMA (red) and ki67 (green) antibodies. Both α-SMA- and ki67-positive cells were increased in TSC1 CKO mice following CCl₄ treatment. (D) Sections were stained with α-SMA (green) and cleaved caspase-3 (red) antibodies. Both α-SMA- and cleaved caspase-3-positive cells decreased in the CCl₄− treated TSC1 CKO mice. Tissues were counterstained with DAPI (blue) to detect nuclei and imaged at 400x magnification.