Interleukin-22 ameliorates liver fibrogenesis by attenuating hepatic stellate cell activation and downregulating the levels of inflammatory cytokines

Figure 1 Degree of liver fibrosis in mice was evaluated by histopathological examination. A: Histology was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and fibrillar collagen deposition was assessed by Masson staining (original magnification × 400). Activated hepatic stellate cells were evaluated in liver sections by immunohistochemical staining of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) (original magnification × 400); B: Degree of liver fibrosis was assessed based on the Ishak scoring system; C: Morphometric quantitation of α-SMA expression. The mean number of α-SMA-positive cells in five ocular fields (magnification × 400) per specimen was assessed as a percentage area. ^bP < 0.01 vs the week 0 model group. Data are mean ± SD (n = 8-10).