Intracellular alpha-fetoprotein mitigates hepatocyte apoptosis and necroptosis by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress

Figure 1 The intrahepatic levels of alpha-fetoprotein protein are elevated in injured livers. A: Immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining analyzed alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) expression and pathological changes, respectively, in liver tissues of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB, n = 34), trauma (n = 8) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, the positive control group, n = 8). The upper panels display immunohistochemical staining, and the lower panels exhibit H&E staining in sequential tissue sections. The positive expression of AFP was stained with brownish yellow by immunohistochemistry and indicated by the arrows; B: The relative levels of AFP protein expression were analyzed by Western blot in the liver specimens indicated. H&E: Hematoxylin and eosin; IHC-P: Immunohistochemistry-paraffin; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; CHB: Chronic hepatitis B. ^bP < 0.01, compared with the control group.