Figure 5.

Collagenolytic matrix metalloproteinase activities in serum. A: Representative degradation of the Azocoll substrate reflecting collagenolytic activity in the chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients and controls (CTs); B: Representative enzymatic activity of the matrix metalloproteinases in F0, F1, F2, F3 and F4. Matrix metalloproteinase activation was carried out with a pH 9.0 buffer at 37 °C for 2 h. Absorbance was obtained through spectrophotometry at 520 nm, and the values were adjusted to the maximal activity reached by Clostridium histolyticum collagenase and expressed as U/mL. Bars are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean. ^aP < 0.05.