Figure 5

Hepatic expression of predominant collagen types and turnover regulators of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the study rats. Animals were grouped as control, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Rats with mild, moderate and severe fibrosis were analyzed together as the fibrosis group. (A) Collagens I and III transcription levels quantified by real-time PCR. (B) Immunolocalization of collagen type III in liver tissue. (C) Hepatic gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase (Mmp)-2 and Mmp9, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (Timp)-1 and Timp2 by real-time PCR. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM of the group, and P≤0.05 was considered significant (on top of the columns). Significance is denoted versus the control group.