Preventive CTLA-4-Ig Treatment Reduces Hepatic Egg Load and Hepatic Fibrosis in Schistosoma mansoni-Infected Mice

Figure 1

Preventive CTLA-4-Ig treatment reduces hepatic fibrosis, but has no therapeutic effect. (a) Schematic of S. mansoni-infected mice receiving either CTLA-4-Ig or ctrl.-Ig. (10 mg/kg) for 4 weeks 3 times weekly (preventive and therapeutic approach). (b) Representative images of liver sections stained with Sirus-Red are shown; 100x magnification. (c) Collagen deposition in livers of mice was quantified by measurement of hydroxyproline (n = 6–12 out of 4 independent experiments). (d) Relative gene expression of Col1a2, Acta2, Mmp2, and Timp1 in livers of mice was determined by real-time PCR (n = 6–9, performed in triplicates). Data are represented as mean ± SD from triplicate data.

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