Fig. 3.

The HSC-specific overexpression of PRDX3 attenuates liver fibrosis in mice. The HSC-specific overexpression of PRDX3 was induced by the injection of AAV9-pGFAP into mice exposed to CCl₄. (A) Schematic diagram showing the AAV9-pGFAP-PRDX3 treatment of mice (left panel). Dual immunofluorescence staining for the Flag-tagged PRDX3 and Desmin was performed, n = 3. Scale bar: 200 μm (middle panel). Immunoblots of Flag-tagged PRDX3 in primary HSCs isolated from mice after AAV injection, n = 6 (right panel). (B) H&E, Masson, Sirius Red staining, n = 6. Scale bar: 200 μm. (C, D) Dual immunofluorescence for PRDX3 and α-SMA. Representative images and a quantitative analysis are shown, n = 3. Scale bar: 200 μm. (E) Liver PRDX3, Col1a1, α-SMA proteins, n = 6. (F) CTGF, TIMP1 mRNA levels, n = 6. (G) H₂O₂ content, n = 6. ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01. (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)