Figure 8. Pcsk9–/– mice does not present liver injury after 6 weeks on the high-cholesterol diet (HCD).
(A) Plasma cholesterol profiles of Pcsk9+/+ and Pcsk9–/– mice before and after 6 weeks of HCD. Differences between Pcsk9+/+ and Pcsk9–/– were determined by 2-way ANOVA. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.005. (B) H&E, Sirius red, and Oil Red O staining of Pcsk9+/+ and Pcsk9–/– liver sections. Original magnification 100×. (C and D) Relative expression of PCSK9, fibrosis-inflammation related genes, and bile acid (BA) metabolism–related genes in the liver of Pcsk9+/+ and Pcsk9–/– mice on HCD. n = 9–12 mice per group. Differences between Pcsk9+/+ and Pcsk9–/– were determined by 2-tailed unpaired t test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.005, ***P < 0.0005,****P < 0.0001.