IKKi deficiency exacerbates the fibrotic response that is induced by pressure overload.

<p>A, Histological sections of the left ventricle were stained with picrosirius red in the indicated groups. B, The fibrotic areas from the histological sections were quantified using an image-analyzing system. C, The mRNA expression levels of collagen I, collagen III, fibronectin, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and CTGF in the myocardium were obtained from the indicated groups using RT-PCR analysis. *<i>P</i><0.05 vs. WT/sham; # <i>P</i><0.05 vs. WT/AB after AB.