Fig. 2

HTRA1 was upregulated in human DCM heart tissues and correlated with myocardial fibrosis. A. qRT-PCR assay showing the difference of HTRA1 mRNA expression between DCM and NF tissues (n: DCM:NF = 24:6). B. Representative cases of co-registered LV native T1 maps, ECV maps in different HTRA1 mRNA expression patients. C The difference of HTRA1 expression between LGE (-) and LGE ( +) patients. D Pearson’s chi-squared test demonstrating the relationship between HTRA1 mRNA expression and clinical myocardial fibrosis parameters, including ECV, native T1, and LGE, which were evaluated through cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. E Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical assessments for HTRA1, Col1 and α-SMA in human DCM and NF tissues. Masson staining for the fibrosis abundance of tissues. The lower scale bar indicates 100um, and the higher scale bar indicates 20 μm. F Western blot analysis to assess the protein level difference of HTRA1 and fibrogenic proteins including α-SMA, CTGF, Col1 and Fib between DCM and NF patients