STAT3 deficiency prevents hepatocarcinogenesis and promotes biliary proliferation in thioacetamide-induced liver injury

Figure 2 Hepatic STAT3 deficiency reduced hepatocyte proliferation and inhibited the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. A: Representative immunohistochemical staining for PCNA in livers of control and STAT3^Δhep mice with TAA treatment for 16 wk. PCNA positive hepatocytes were decreased in STAT3^Δhep mice. Original magnification × 200. B: The number of PCNA positive hepatocytes. The ratio of PCNA positive hepatocytes to all hepatocytes was quantified in three different samples per a group. Values represent means ± standard error of the mean. ^bP < 0.01 (P = 0.000232) vs control. C: Gross liver appearance of control and STAT3^Δhep mice with TAA treatment for 30 wk. Tumor formation with TAA treatment for 30 wk (upper panel). HE staining of representative sections of hepatocellular carcinoma. Original magnification × 100 (lower left panel) and × 400 (lower right panel). D: The number of HCC in control and STAT3^Δhep mice. Values represent means ± SE of the mean (n = 6). ^aP < 0.05 (P = 0.0219) vs control. TAA: Thioacetamide.