Fig. 6

HGF administration reduced APAP-induced liver injury and facilitated liver repair. A Expression of mRNA encoding genes Hgf in the livers of TP^△mac or control mice 0 h and 48 h after APAP treatment. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 5–6 mice per group). Double immunofluorescence of HGF (green) and CD68 (red) in control livers at 48 h. The three right panels are magnified images of the area outlined by the white solid box in the left panel. Scale bar: 20 μm. Arrowheads indicate double-positive cells. Scale bar: 20 μm. The number of CD68⁺ cells positive for HGP in the livers of TP^△mac or Control mice 48 h after APAP treatment. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 5 mice per group). *p < 0.05; ****p < 0.0001. B ALT levels and hepatic necrotic area (%) in TP^△mac mice treated with HGF or vehicle at 48 h. Representative images of H&E staining of liver sections from TP^△mac mice treated with HGF or vehicle at 48 h. CV central vein, PV portal vein. Scale bars: 200 μm. C Representative images of PCNA staining of liver sections from TP^△mac mice treated with HGF or vehicle at 48 h. CV central vein, PV portal vein. Scale bars: 100 μm. PCNA⁺ hepatocytes (%) in TP^△mac mice treated with HGF or vehicle. D Representative immunofluorescence images of CD68 from TP^△mac mice treated with HGF or vehicle at 48 h. CV central vein, PV portal vein. Scale bars: 100 μm. CD68⁺ cells in TP^△mac mice treated with HGF or vehicle. E Expression of mRNA-encoding genes related to a pro-inflammatory macrophage phenotype (Il1b and Il6), genes related to a reparative macrophage phenotype (Mr and Fizz1), and genes related to chemokines (Ccl2, Ccl7, and Ccl9) in the livers of TP^△mac mice treated with HGF or vehicle 48 h after APAP treatment. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD. *p < 0.05; ***p < 0.001; ****p < 0.0001