M2-like Kupffer cells in fibrotic liver may protect against acute insult

Figure 1 Inhibition of High mobility group box 1 expression is closely associated with the injury resistance in the setting of liver fibrosis. Control and fibrotic mice (treated with CCl₄ for 6 wk) were challenged with a lethal dose of D-GalN (1 mg/g)/LPS (50 ng/g), and hepatic damage was assessed by histology (A: HE staining; original magnification, × 200) and serum ALT levels (B). ^aP < 0.05 vs the control group, ^bP < 0.05 vs the fibrosis group, ^cP < 0.05 vs the fibrosis + D-GalN/LPS group. The expression of HMGB1 was determined by immunohistochemical staining (C: original magnification, × 200). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. CCl₄: Carbon tetrachloride; D-GalN: D-galactosamine; HMGB1: High mobility group box 1; LPS: Lipopolysaccharide.