Effect of porcine serum on liver fibrosis. As liver fibrosis progressed, the expression of (A) Col IV, (B) PIIINP and (C) HA in the serum was measured. #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 vs N; *P<0.05, **P<0.01 vs. M. The liver (D) Hyp content and (E) 11β-HSD1 enzyme activity. ##P<0.01 vs. N; **P<0.01 and *P<0.05 vs. M. Protein expression levels were (F) determined by western blotting and semi-quantified for (G) α-SMA, (H) 11β-HSD1 and (I) CTGF. #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 and ###P<0.001 vs. N; *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001 vs. M. Col IV, type IV collagen; PIIINP, N-terminal pro-peptide of collagen type III; HA, hyaluronic acid; N, normal control group; M, model group; M+I, 11β-HSD1 inhibitor (BVT.2733) group; Hyp, hydroxyproline; 11β-HSD1, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1; α-SMA, α-smooth muscle actin; CTGF, connective tissue growth factor.