LPS increases fibrosis-related genes in 1–2 weeks.

<p>Cardiac expression of fibrosis-related genes (mean + SEM) measured by QRT-PCR in mice injected with i.p. saline (Control, n = 7), or LPS 10 mg/kg/week for 1 week (n = 6) or for 2 weeks (n = 6). LPS significantly increased collagen Iα1, collagen IIIα1, MMP2, MMP9, TIMP1, TIMP2, and periostin in the left ventricle (P<0.001 for all, except P = 0.012 for TIMP1, one way ANOVA). Multiple comparisons (Holm-Sidak Test) showed significant increases in all fibrosis related genes at 1 week or 2 weeks compared with control (*P<0.05 for all, except P = ns for MMP9 at 1 week). There were no significant differences in fibrosis related genes between 1 week and 2 weeks, except for a significant increase in MMP9 (P<0.05).