Figure 1.

MBL levels increase during liver fibrosis and are associated negatively with cirrhosis severity. (A) The concentration of the serum MBL in healthy volunteers (n = 20) and liver cirrhotic patients (n = 31) was determined by ELISA. (B) The relationship between plasma MBL concentration and AST, ALT, and albumin levels in liver cirrhotic patients. (C) The concentration of MBL in liver cirrhosis patients with high ALT and low ALT levels. (D) The concentration of MBL in liver cirrhosis patients with high AST and low AST levels. (E) The correlation of MBL and AST, and ALT in cirrhosis patients. (F) Quantification of serum MBL concentration in liver cirrhosis patients with Child–Pugh A and Child–Pugh B. (G) Representative images and statistical analysis of MBL expression in liver sections from liver cirrhosis patients with Child–Pugh A (n = 3) and Child-Pugh B (n = 3). Mice (n = 5 per group) were injected with oil or CCl₄ for 6 weeks. (H) Representative photomicrographs of MBL staining in mouse livers. The (I) protein levels and (J) mRNA levels of MBL were assessed by Western blot and quantitative reverse-transcription (qRT)-PCR analysis, respectively. Mice (n = 5 per group) were subjected to BDL model for 3 weeks. (K) The protein levels of MBL in liver tissues of WT and MBL^-/- mice. The (L) protein levels and (M) mRNA levels of MBL were assessed by Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis, respectively. Scale bars: 100 μm. Data are presented as means ± SEM. ∗P < .05, ∗∗P < .01, Student t test. HC, healthy control; LC, liver cirrhosis.