Figure 7.

Knockdown of 11βHSD1 specifically in HSC/MF populations (MFKD) enhances hepatic MFB activation and fibrotic response in CCl₄ injury. Male mice (10‐12 weeks old) were administered CCl₄ intraperitoneally for 12 weeks to induce liver injury (n = 6/group). (A) Representative images of total collagen (PSR), Col1, and αSMA staining at 24‐hour peak injury in control and MFKD mice with quantification graphs at the bottom of each representative image panel. (B) Hepatic Acta2 mRNA levels were measured by quantitative PCR and normalized for 18S. Plasma levels of ALT (C) and AST (D) in control (Hsd11b1 ^fl/fl; white bars) and MFKD (black bars) mice during injury. HSCs were isolated from 8‐week‐old mice. Acta2 (E) and Col1a1 (F) mRNA levels were measured at 2, 5, and 8 days post ex vivo HSC activation in MFKD (black bars) and control littermates (white bars) (n = 3/group). ^* P < 0.05, ^** P < 0.01, ^*** P < 0.001 comparisons between genotypes. Abbreviation: A.U., arbitrary unit.