Kallistatin prevents CCl₄–induced injury to hepatic structure in rats.

<p>(A) Representative images of H&E or Sirus red stained sections (original magnifications ×40). Hyperplastic proliferation of hepatocytes in nodular formations (arrowheaded) surrounded by fibrotic septa (arrowed). Scale bars = 100 µm. (B) Collagen deposition was evaluated by Sirius red staining and quantitated by image analysis. Data are expressed as mean±SD (n = 8). ## <i>p</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> negative control; * <i>p</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> model control group.</p

Kallistatin prevents CCl₄–induced increase of serum HA (A), LN (B) and procollagen III (C) levels in rats.

<p>The results are shown as the mean±SD (n = 8). ## <i>p</i><0.01 vs. negative control; *<i>p</i><0.05 vs. model control group; ** <i>p</i><0.01 vs. model control group.</p

Effect of kallistatin on intracellular ROS levels after H₂O₂ exposure in LX-2.

<p>Cells were treated without or with kallistatin (2 µg/ml, 10 µg/ml and 50 µg/ml, respectively) prior to H₂O₂ challenge. ROS levels were measured using fluorescent probe DCFH-DA from the cells. (A) Representative images of ROS levels. Scale bars = 100 µm. (B) Intensity arbitrary units (A.U.) reflecting the relative value of intracellular ROS levels. Each value represents the mean±SD of triplicates. ## <i>p</i><0.01 vs. normal; **<i>p</i><0.01 vs. H₂O₂ alone.</p

Effects of kallistatin on MDA and SOD in CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis rats (n = 8).

<p>The results are showed as the mean±SD (n = 8).</p>##<p><i>p</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> negative control;</p><p>*<i>p</i><0.05 <i>vs.</i> model control group;</p><p>**<i>p</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> model control group.</p

Kallistatin prevents CCl₄–induced liver fibrogenesis in rats.

<p>(A) Representative images of immunohistochemical staining for TGF-β1 (brown in color, arrowheaded) and α-SMA (brown in color, arrowheaded) are shown (original magnifications ×10) respectively. Expression of α-SMA around the periportal fibrotic band areas, central vein and fibrous septa were arrowed. Scale bars = 100 µm. (B) Deposition of α-SMA and TGF- β1 was quantitated by image analysis based on the immunohistochemistry results. Data are expressed as mean±SD (n = 8). ## <i>p</i><0.01 vs. negative control; ** <i>p</i><0.01 vs. model control group. (C) Immunoblotting analysis of α-SMA and TGF- β1 in livers from CCl₄ alone or plus kallistatin treated rats. Data from immunoblotting were confirmed, showing kallistatin-dependent abrogation of α-SMA and TGF-β1 expression. Immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry results were consistent. Housekeeping proteins GAPDH are useful as loading controls for western blot and protein normalization.</p

Effects of kallistatin on serum AST, ALT and Albumin in CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis rats (n = 8).

<p>The results are showed as mean±SD.</p>##<p><i>p</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> negative control;</p><p>*<i>p</i><0.05 <i>vs.</i> model control;</p><p>**<i>p</i><0.01 <i>vs.</i> model control.</p

Kallistatin suppressed the expression of α-SMA, the marker of activated HSCs.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Cultured HSCs on days 6 were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and subjected to immunocytochemistry analysis of α-SMA (brown colored). Scale bars = 100 µm. (B) Deposition of α-SMA and TGF- β1 was quantitated by image analysis based on the immunohistochemistry results. Data are expressed as mean±SD (n = 8)*<i>p</i><0.05 vs. PBS group; ** <i>p</i><0.01 vs. PBS group.</p

Effects of kallistatin on hepatic hydroxyproline content in CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis rats in a dose-dependent manner.

<p>The results are shown as the mean±SD (n = 8). ## <i>p</i><0.01 vs. negative control; *<i>p</i><0.05 vs. model control group; ** <i>p</i><0.01 vs. model control group.</p

Serum biochemical characteristics of ICP and control groups.

<p>The data are expressed as the mean ± S.D., **p<0.01 vs. control group.</p

Clinical characteristics of ICP and control groups.

<p>The data are expressed as the mean ± S.D., *<i>p</i><0.05 vs. control group, **<i>p</i><0.01 vs. control group. Χ²-test was used to evaluate the comparisons of the rates, *<i>p</i><0.05 vs. control group, **<i>p</i><0.01 vs. control group.</p