MMP19KOs show faster recovery from fibrosis than WTs.

<p>Mice treated with CCl₄ for 6 weeks were allowed 10 or 15 days for recovery. (A) After 15 days of recovery, significant parenchymal regeneration with less visible necrosis and fibrosis was observed in both WT and MMP19KO livers. (B) Fibrotic area (based on image analysis of Sirius red staining) was significantly lower in MMP19KOs after 15 days of recovery. (D) αSMA mRNA expression was slightly higher in WTs than in MMP19KOs throughout the course of liver damage progression but failed to drop during the recovery. Images were originally taken at 100× (H&E) and 50× (Sirius Red) magnification, scale bars = 200 µm. *p<0.05, MMP19s vs. WTs; 5–9 animals of each strain were analyzed at each time point.