Figure 5. HSC-specific GR deletion abolishes DEX effect on fibrotic gene expression.
A, HSC-specific GR knockout mice (GRhGFAP) and control littermates (GRF/F) were injected with CCl4 in combination with vehicle (PBS, n = 3 per each genotype) or DEX-NaPO4 (DEX, n = 3 per each genotype). Representative liver sections stained with hematoxylin/eosin (H&E) (×100, upper) and Sirius red (×40, lower) are shown. Arrowhead areas of infiltrating mononuclear cells. B, Infiltrated mononuclear cells were counted. C, The size of fibrotic area were quantified. D, Serum ALT level was analyzed. E, The changes of fibrotic gene expression were determined by Q-PCR analysis. Asterisks denote statistically significant differences (Student's t test; *, P < .05; **, P < .01; †, Cohen's d > 0.8).