Inhibiting heme oxygenase-1 attenuates rat liver fibrosis by removing iron accumulation

Figure 4 The heme oxygenase-1, transforming growth factor-β1, nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2, hepcidin, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 expression were detected by Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. A, B: The mRNA and protein levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2); C: The mRNA levels of hepcidin, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1). Values are expressed as mean ± SE. ^bP < 0.01 vs Sham group; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01 vs bile duct ligation (BDL) group; ^eP < 0.05, ^fP < 0.01 vs zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) group. CoPP: Cobalt protoporphyrin; DFX: Deferoxamine.