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

Figure 5 Recombinant IL-22 alleviated the severity of hepatic fibrosis. A: Histology was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and fibrillar collagen deposition was evaluated 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. ^bP < 0.01 vs the carrier group. Data are mean ± SD (n = 8). rmIL-22: Recombinant IL-22.