Dachaihu decoction ameliorates pancreatic fibrosis by inhibiting macrophage infiltration in chronic pancreatitis

Figure 1 Morphological changes and macrophage infiltration in pancreatic sections obtained from mice with chronic pancreatitis induced by L-arginine. A: Pancreatic morphology at different time points of L-arginine induction using hematoxylin and eosin staining (original magnification, × 100); B: Macrophage infiltration in pancreas was detected using immunohistochemistry. Macrophages were stained using an anti-mouse F4/80 antibody (original magnification, × 200).

Figure 2 Interleukin-6 production is related to macrophage infiltration. A: Double immunofluorescent signals from F4/80 and interleukin-6 in L-arginine-induced chronic pancreatitis tissue at different time points (original magnification, × 200); B: Interleukin-6 levels in the sera of mice with chronic pancreatitis. Values are shown as mean ± SD (n = 36). ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs control.

Figure 3 Dachaihu decoction protects against pancreatic injury and pancreatic fibrosis in mice with chronic pancreatitis. A: Changes in pancreatic morphology at different time points were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining (original magnification, × 100); B: Collagen deposition was detected by Masson staining (original magnification, × 100); C: Ratio of pancreas weight/body weight changes in the different groups; D: The expression of fibronectin in the pancreas following the development of chronic pancreatitis. Values are shown as mean ± SD (n = 9). ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs control; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01 vs CP group.

Figure 4 Dachaihu decoction attenuated macrophage infiltration and interleukin-6 expression in the pancreas. A: Immunohistochemistry of macrophages associated with chronic pancreatitis (original magnification, × 200); B: Interleukin-6 mRNA levels in the pancreas determined by RT-PCR. Values are shown as mean ± SD (n = 9). ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs control; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01 vs CP group.

Figure 5 Effects of Dachaihu decoction on MCP-1 and MIP-1α mRNA levels in the pancreas of mice with chronic pancreatitis. A: MCP-1 mRNA levels in the pancreas as determined by real time-polymerase chain reaction; B: MIP-1α levels in the pancreas as determined by real time-polymerase chain reaction. Values are shown as mean ± SD (n = 9). ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01 vs control; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01 vs CP group.