The Role of Cathepsin B in Peritoneal Fibrosis due to Peritoneal Dialysis

Figure 5

Microscopic examination of anterior abdominal wall in the mouse fibrosis model. Submesothelial thickness was increased from 31 ± 9 μm in the control group (a) to 333 ± 59 μm in the chlorhexidine-treated group (b). The addition of cathepsin B to the chlorhexidine-treated mice reduced the thickness of the submesothelial layer by 192 ± 25 μm (c), while the simultaneous addition of cathepsin B and cystatin C had no significant effect (280 ± 37 μm) (d).

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)