Figure 4.

KC‐derived TGF‐β1 is required for liver fibrosis. A, Mannose‐conjugated polymers were used to deliver TGF‐β1 siRNA or its scrambled control siRNA in vivo. Additionally, GdCl3 was injected to block hepatic KCs function. The concentration of TGF‐β1 was measured by ELISA (n = 3 mice/ group). B‐C, The expression of TGF‐β1 in KCs from olive‐induced and CCL4‐induced mice with or without TGF‐β1 interference was determined by immunoblot and quantitative analysis. D, Liver tissues from each group were stained with Sirius red (n = 3 mice/ group, magnification, ×400). E, Hydroxyproline of livers removed from olive‐induced and CCL4‐induced mice with or without TGF‐β1 interference (n = 3 mice/ group). F‐G, The α‐SMA expression of HSCs cultured in KC supernatant from olive‐induced and CCL4‐induced mice with or without TGF‐β1 interference was determined by immunoblot and quantitative analysis. *P < .05; **P < .001; ***P < .0001. Values represent the mean ± SD of at least three independent experiments