Research Paper Volume 14, Issue 9 pp 4036—4049

Figure 4. PTX3 KD counteracted myocardial fibrosis by down-regulating IL-6/STAT3 pathway in murine HF after MI. (A) Representative Masson staining images in each group. (B) The fibrosis ratio was quantified by the percentage of interstitial fibrosis in the total LV area in Masson staining and expressed as the average of all sections. (C) Representative IF counterstaining images in each group (×40). Cardiomyocytes were stained with cardiac troponin T (green) and cardiac fibroblasts were stained with α-SMA (red). (D) Fluorescence intensity of α-SMA was quantified. (E) Western blotting was performed to measure the protein expression. Control group vs. PTX3-NC group, *p<0.05, ** p<0.01, *** p<0.001; PTX3-NC group vs. PTX3-KD group, ^# p<0.05, ^## p<0.01, ^### p<0.001.