PQQ protects mice from TAA-induced liver fibrosis.

<p>(A) Liver sections from TAA-treated mice were stained with HE, α-SMA antibody and Sirius red. Closed arrowhead indicates inflammatory cells infiltration; Open arrowhead indicates fibrotic septa; asterisk indicates hydropic degeneration (top panel). Scale bar, 100 μm. (B) Quantitative analysis of Sirius red-positive area by IPP software. (C) Expression of α-SMA and collagen 1A1 in liver tissues was determined by western blot to evaluate the level of HSCs transdifferentiation and collagen 1A1 production. (D) Quantification of hydroxyproline content in liver tissues. N, normal group. M, TAA model. L, low-dose PQQ. H, high-dose PQQ. S, silymarin. In (B) and (D), n = 8 in each group. **, p<0.01.