Reviewer's report
Title:Mouse model of carbon tetrachloride induced liver fibrosis:
Histopathological changes and expression of CD133 and epidermal growth factor
Version: 1Date:11 December 2009
Reviewer: Biserka Radosevic-Stasic
Reviewer's report:
The article presents interesting and novel data about expression of CD133 and
epidermal growth factor (EGF) in chronically injured and neoplastic liver tissues
in mice subjected to ingestion of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Results, based on
histopathological analysis, quantitative real time-PCR determination, ELISA and
Western blotting showed that intoxication with CCl4 after 15 weeks induces in the
liver a fibrosis (without other signs of cirrhosis) and hepatocellular carcinomas,
with high upregulation CD133 and significant downregulation of EGF protein and
EGFR mRNA. The findings were followed by increased expression of
representative markers of hepatic stellate cells (desmin and GFAP), suggesting
these CD133+ cells contribute to liver regeneration and tumor progression in A/J
mice. Since similar changes were not observed in humans and rats, it was
concluded that species-specific differences exist in chronic liver diseases. The
hypothesis needs to be confirmed by immunohistochemistry and FACS analysis,
but the experiments were designed appropriately, the methodology was precise,
and the discussion supports the results.
Discretionary Revisions
In the Material and Methods: (Animals and Experimental design) a link to Figure
1 should be added (probably after “Research Animal Care” …. top, second
line…. “As shown on Fig. 1”
In Results: (in section EGF and EGFR expression line 8: (Fig. 3C). “And” should
be deleted.
In Discussion: (line 7) did not developed although HCC….. instead of did not
developed. Although HCC……
Level of interest: An article of outstanding merit and interest in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
'I declare that I have no competing interests'
Reviewer's report
Title:Mouse model of carbon tetrachloride induced liver fibrosis:
Histopathological changes and expression of CD133 and epidermal growth factor
Version: 1Date:11 December 2009
Reviewer: Biserka Radosevic-Stasic
Reviewer's report:
The article presents interesting and novel data about expression of CD133 and
epidermal growth factor (EGF) in chronically injured and neoplastic liver tissues
in mice subjected to ingestion of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Results, based on
histopathological analysis, quantitative real time-PCR determination, ELISA and
Western blotting showed that intoxication with CCl4 after 15 weeks induces in the
liver a fibrosis (without other signs of cirrhosis) and hepatocellular carcinomas,
with high upregulation CD133 and significant downregulation of EGF protein and
EGFR mRNA. The findings were followed by increased expression of
representative markers of hepatic stellate cells (desmin and GFAP), suggesting
these CD133+ cells contribute to liver regeneration and tumor progression in A/J
mice. Since similar changes were not observed in humans and rats, it was
concluded that species-specific differences exist in chronic liver diseases. The
hypothesis needs to be confirmed by immunohistochemistry and FACS analysis,
but the experiments were designed appropriately, the methodology was precise,
and the discussion supports the results.
Discretionary Revisions
In the Material and Methods: (Animals and Experimental design) a link to Figure
1 should be added (probably after “Research Animal Care” …. top, second
line…. “As shown on Fig. 1”
In Results: (in section EGF and EGFR expression line 8: (Fig. 3C). “And” should
be deleted.
In Discussion: (line 7) did not developed although HCC….. instead of did not
developed. Although HCC……
Level of interest: An article of outstanding merit and interest in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
'I declare that I have no competing interests'
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Mouse model of carbon tetrachloride induced liver fibrosis:
Histopathological changes and expression of CD133 and epidermal growth factor
Version: 1Date:11 December 2009
Reviewer: Biserka Radosevic-Stasic
Reviewer's report:
The article presents interesting and novel data about expression of CD133 and
epidermal growth factor (EGF) in chronically injured and neoplastic liver tissues
in mice subjected to ingestion of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Results, based on
histopathological analysis, quantitative real time-PCR determination, ELISA and
Western blotting showed that intoxication with CCl4 after 15 weeks induces in the
liver a fibrosis (without other signs of cirrhosis) and hepatocellular carcinomas,
with high upregulation CD133 and significant downregulation of EGF protein and
EGFR mRNA. The findings were followed by increased expression of
representative markers of hepatic stellate cells (desmin and GFAP), suggesting
these CD133+ cells contribute to liver regeneration and tumor progression in A/J
mice. Since similar changes were not observed in humans and rats, it was
concluded that species-specific differences exist in chronic liver diseases. The
hypothesis needs to be confirmed by immunohistochemistry and FACS analysis,
but the experiments were designed appropriately, the methodology was precise,
and the discussion supports the results.
Discretionary Revisions
In the Material and Methods: (Animals and Experimental design) a link to Figure
1 should be added (probably after “Research Animal Care” …. top, second
line…. “As shown on Fig. 1”
In Results: (in section EGF and EGFR expression line 8: (Fig. 3C). “And” should
be deleted.
In Discussion: (line 7) did not developed although HCC….. instead of did not
developed. Although HCC……
Level of interest: An article of outstanding merit and interest in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
'I declare that I have no competing interests'
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