Figure 2.

S. japonicum infection promotes the expression of fibrotic factors in hepatocytes. (A and B) Real-time PCR and western blotting were used to examine the expression of CTGF and TGF-β in primary hepatocytes purified from schistosomiasis-infected livers 6 and 12 weeks after infection. (C) Liver sections were immunohistochemically stained for CTGF and TGF-β. Sj, S. japonicum. Scale bar, 100 μm (left) and 25 μm (right). Data represent the mean ± SEM; n = 5 (*P < 0.05).