Fig. 1. A DNA-PKcs-dependent pathway is required for the development of chronic ethanol-induced liver disease.
WT and DNA-PKcsLKO mice were allowed free access to an ethanol or control diet (n = 6). a, b Liver tissues from WT and DNA-PKcsLKO mice treated with or without alcohol were analyzed using western blotting. c, d Paraffin-embedded liver sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. e, f Hepatic fibrosis was detected by Sirius Red staining. g, h Frozen liver sections were subjected to Oil Red O staining. i Ultrastructural changes in hepatocytes, especially mitochondria, in response to alcohol treatment. j–l Immunofluorescence analysis of MMP9 and VCAM1. m–o qPCR was used to explore the changes in TGFβ, TNFα and IL-1 transcription. p Caspase-3 activity was used to detect hepatic apoptosis. The experiments were repeated three times with similar results. The data represent the mean ± standard error of the mean. *p < 0.05.