*2.8. Gene Expression Array*

84 fibrosis-related genes were analyzed using the RT<sup>2</sup> Profiler™ PCR Array Mouse Fibrosis (PAMM-120ZC, QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany) according to the manufacturer's instructions. RNA was prepared as described above and cDNA synthesis was performed with RT2 First Strand Kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany) on pooled samples (fibrocyte-ablated and control group, *n* = 15 per group). Data analysis was conducted utilizing the QIAGEN data analysis web portal.
