Fig 1: ADAMTS5 and ChABC treatment of rat livers alters compression stiffening behavior.A, sulfated GAG quantification after perfusion with either enzyme, compared to control (Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution; HBSS) (p = 0.0123 for HBSS vs. ADAMTS5 and p = 0.0019 for HBSS vs. ChABC). B, representative confocal imaging of immunostaining using an antibody against DPEAAE, the epitope exposed by ADAMTS5 cleavage of versican. DPEAAE (green), DAPI (blue). C, G′ was measured under 0%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% compression (with HBSS perfusion as a control). There is a significant difference at 25% compression (p = 0.0171 for HBSS vs. ChABC at 25% compression). D, Young’s modulus (E) was calculated from normal force and gap changes and plotted at 5%, 12.5%, 17.5% and 22.5% compression (p = 0.003 for HBSS vs. ADAMTS5 and p = 1.8e-5 for HBSS vs. ChABC at 22.5% compression). E, G′ measured at increasing strain from 1% to 50% (data did not show statistical differences.). N = 3 for HBSS, N = 4 for ADAMTS5, and N = 4 for ChABC-perfused livers. Compression and strain sweep experiments were done on the same liver samples, as was the assay for sulfated GAGs (A). Scale bar = 200 μm. Data represent mean ± SD; A was analyzed using one-way ANOVA, C, D, and E using two-way ANOVA with repeated measurements; post hoc test by Tukey’s multiple comparisons; ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001 and ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001.