Fig. 2
MenSC-secreted ECM1 depresses HSC activation and attenuates liver fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. A Western blotting analyses of HA-tag and ECM1 protein levels in MenSCs after ECM1 knockdown or overexpression. α-Tubulin was used as loading control. Full-length blots are presented in Additional file 9. B Western blotting analyses of FN, COL1A1, and α-SMA protein levels in LX-2 cells co-cultured with NC-MenSCs or ove-ECM1-MenSCs. α-Tubulin was used as loading control. Full-length blots are presented in Additional file 9. C Western blotting analyses of FN, COL1A1, and α-SMA protein expression in LX-2 cells co-cultured with NC-MenSCs or ECM1-KD-MenSCs. α-Tubulin was used as loading control. Full-length blots are presented in Additional file 9. D Ratios of liver weight-to-body weight of control, CCl4, NC-MenSC, and ove-ECM1-MenSC-treated group. E Ratios of liver weight-to-body weight of control, CCl4, NC-MenSC and ECM1-KD-MenSC-treated group. F and H Analysis of serum ALT and AST levels from control, CCl4, NC-MenSC, and ove-ECM1-MenSC-treated group. G and I Analysis of serum ALT and AST levels from control, CCl4, NC-MenSC and ECM1-KD-MenSC-treated group. J H&E and Masson’s trichrome staining of paraffin sections of livers from control, CCl4, NC-MenSC, and ove-ECM1-MenSC or ECM1-KD-MenSC treated groups. K Semi-quantitative analysis of Masson’s trichrome staining using ImageJ from control, CCl4, NC-MenSC, and ove-ECM1-MenSC- or ECM1-KD-MenSC-treated groups. L α-SMA staining of paraffin sections of livers from control, CCl4, NC-MenSC, and ove-ECM1-MenSC- or ECM1-KD-MenSC-treated groups. M Semi-quantitative analysis of α-SMA staining using ImageJ from control, CCl4, NC-MenSC, and ove-ECM1-MenSC- or ECM1-KD-MenSC-treated groups. Data are represented as the mean ± SEM, and three mice in each group were analyzed. Scale bar = 200 μm. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001