Figure 3.

Erk2^−/− (KO) livers express less cirrhosis gene α-SMA than WT livers. Gene expression of Egr1 (a), alpha-SMA (b) were determined by QPCR. Data were normalized by the average of expression level in WT under the normal chew diet (WT, normal) as 1. Data were represented as mean +/− SE and were considered significant if * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01. WT (n = 4), KO (n = 4); (c) WT and Erk2^−/− livers were subjected to Western Blotting and analyzed for protein expression in alpha-SMA, phospho-ERK (P-ERK1 and P-ERK2), ERK (ERK1 and ERK2) and loading control glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH); (d) Protein expression were quantized by Image J and normalized by the expression of GAPDH. The relative protein expression level was shown. (WT n = 4; KO n = 4; * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01).