A–D) Immunoreactivity of VEGF-A/C, CD31, and vWF was increased in liver sections from Mdr2−/− compared with normal WT mice, and enhanced mRNA expression of Vegf-a/c, Vegfr-2/3, Angpt1/2, Tie-1/2, Cd31, and vWF in total liver and Vegf-a/c, Vegfr-2/3, Angpt1/2, and Tie-1/2 in cholangiocytes from Mdr2−/− compared with WT mice. Exposure of Mdr2−/− mice to darkness or melatonin treatment decreased the expression of VEGF-A/C, CD31, and vWF in liver sections (A, B), and Vegf-a/c, Vegfr-2/3, Angpt1/2,
Tie-1/2,
Cd31, and vWF in the selected samples compared with Mdr2−/− mice (C, D). Original magnification, ×40. E) Immunoreactivity for vWF was enhanced in liver sections from 1 patient with late-stage PSC compared with 1 healthy control, and mRNA expression of VEGF-A/C, VEGFR-2/3, ANGPT1/2, TIE-1/2, CD31, and vWF was increased in human late-stage PSC samples compared with control samples. Original magnification, ×40. Data are means ± sem of 3 PCR reactions from 4 different samples obtained from 4 healthy male control subjects and 4 male patients with PSC. *P < 0.05 vs. control samples.