Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-7 induces activation and transdifferentiation of hepatic stellate cells in vitro

Figure 2 Quantitation of collagen I deposition in HSC. A: Immunocytochemical detection of collagen I. Expression of collagen I was examined on HSC-coated dishes after treatment with IGFBP-7 at different concentrations for 24 h (a-d indicated control, 10 &mgr;g/L, 20 &mgr;g/L, and 30 &mgr;g/L IGFBP-7, respectively). Collagen I was examined by immunocytochemistry and the level of the expression of collagen I was enhanced in a dose-dependent manner in sequence compared with the control group. Original magnification: × 200; B: Detection of collagen I by Western blotting. Cultured HSC were incubated with IGFBP-7 for 24 h, and then lysates of HSC were harvested and analyzed by Western blotting for collagen I. β-actin was used as a loading control. Each experiment was replicated 6 times. M: Marker; 1: Control group; 2, 3, 4 represent 10 &mgr;g/L, 20 &mgr;g/L, 30 &mgr;g/L.