Figure 4.

Myeloid follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1) deficiency suppresses M1 polarisation and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway activation in mice fibrotic livers. (A) Dual-immunofluorescence staining of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and CD68 in liver tissues; (B) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of iNOS and Arg1 was quantified in liver tissues; (C) protein expression of iNOS, p-STAT1, p-STAT6 and GAPDH were analysed in liver samples; (D) immunofluorescence staining of p65 and diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) in liver tissues; (E) protein expression of toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, phospho-IkappaB kinases (p-Ikk), p-NF-κBp65 and GAPDH were analysed in liver samples. Data were presented as mean±SEM; n=6–8 per group; scale bars, 50 µm; **p<0.01. BDL, bile duct ligation; CCl₄, carbon tetrachloride; MCD, methionine-deficient and choline-deficient diet.