Figure 6.

CCl₄-induced fibrosis in mice is associated with increased presence of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The presence of HSCs was determined by quantitative real-time PCR for the following markers: (A) desmin, (B) GFAP, and (C) CD133. The mRNA expression of these markers was significantly up-regulated in the fibrotic livers of CCl₄-treated mice. Upon withdrawal of CCl₄, the expression of CD133 returned to control levels in the surrounding normal tissues but remained elevated in the tumors (C). No increase was seen by quantitative real-time PCR for (D) VEGFR2, one of the surface markers of EPCs. Each value represents the mean ± SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 and ***P = 0.0001 compared with respective control mice (Time point I: Control group n = 4, CCl₄ Group n = 4; Time point II: Control group n = 2, CCl₄ Group n = 5, Time point III: Control group n = 5, CCl₄ Group (Non-tumor part) n = 9, CCl₄ Group (HCC part) n = 5).