Hepatic microenvironment underlies fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients

Figure 4 Hepatic stellate cells may serve as a proinflammatory source. A: qPCR inflammation signature genes in LX-2 cells treated with various growth factors or cytokines; B: qPCR of alpha-smooth muscle actin, interleukin 1β and platelet-derived growth factor gene levels in LX-2 cells treated with transforming growth factor β1 combined with interleukin 1β. Values presented are expressed as the means ± SE; P value < 0.05 was considered significant; ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01; ^cP < 0.001. IL-1β: Interleukin 1β; IL6: Interleukin 6; CCL3: C-C motif chemokine ligand 3; α-SMA: Alpha-smooth muscle actin; PDGF: Platelet-derived growth factor.