Figure 6
Expression of MMPs: (A) The activity of MMPs was analysed by zymography. The liver homogenate was resolved in 10% SDS-PAGE containing 0.1% gelatin without reducing agent. The gel was then stained and washed. MMPs were well expressed in MSC and MSC+HGF-CNP groups; particularly, MMP2 was increasingly expressed in these groups compared to control, HSC and HSC+HGF-CNP treated groups. This indicated the activation of MMPs by MSC. (B) Expression of MMPs was analyzed by western blotting. Electrophoretically resolved proteins were transferred and then immunostained against mouse MMP2 and MMP9. Control group 1, HSC 2, MSC 3, HSC+HGF-CNP 4, MSC+HGF-CNP 5 treated mice showed increased expression of MMPs, particularly MMP2. Semiquantitative analysis of MMP2 and MMP9 was carried out and significant level of expression of MMP2 and MMP9 was found in MSC and MSC+HGF-CNP treated groups (P < 0.05) compared to control, HSC and HSC+HGF-CNP treated groups. Significant level of expression of MMP2 appeared compared to MMP9. It explored the reason for the decrease of ECM.