Increased serum NGF levels and intrahepatic NGF up-regulation in mice receiving bile duct ligation (BDL) surgery.

<p>Normal mice (n = 6) and those receiving BDL surgery were sacrificed at 7 or 14 post-operative days (POD7, n = 4) or (POD14, n = 4). (A) Serum levels of NGF and inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6 and TGF-β1 were determined by ELISA detection. (B) Liver tissue extracts were collected for mRNA isolation and subjected to RT-qPCR analysis. (C) Contents of NGF and TGF-β1 proteins in pooled liver extracts in experimental groups were measured using Western blot detection. Subsequent densitometrical analysis showed that cholestatic injury increased protein abundance of NGF (D) and TGF-β1 (E). All data are shown in mean±SEM. * indicates <i>P</i> <0.05 as compared to normal controls.