Figure 4.

Combination LEF+MTX suppresses myeloid cell adhesion to the sinusoidal endothelium and hinders fibrosis resolution. (A) Representative images of the liver sinusoidal endothelium illustrating the CD11b⁺ cells (green). (B) CD11b⁺ cells per liver sinusoid were calculated. (C) Representative images of Masson staining. (D) mRNA and (E) protein expression levels of VEGF-A were detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and ELISA, respectively. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation (n=6). *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001. Scale bar, 200 µm. CCl₄, carbon tetrachloride; CD, cluster of differentiation; LEF, leflunomide; MTX, methotrexate; NC, normal control; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.