Macrophage inflammatory protein-1α shows profibrotic effects in two experimental liver fibosis

Background and Aims: Liver fibrosis is associated with infiltrating immune cells and activation of hepatic stellate cells which leads to excess production of extracellular matrix proteins. We here aimed to investigate the effects of the CC chemokine CCL3, also known as macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α), in two different fibrosis models. Methods: We treated mice with either CCl4 or with a MCD diet to induce fibrosis in CCL3 deficient (CCL3 -/-) and wild-type mice. Fibrosis was analyzed by histology (sirius red staining), hydroxyproline content and intrahepatic mRNA expression of fibrosis-related genes (…