CCN2 and biliary atresia: Validation analysis using qRT-PCR for four DEGs demonstrated the consistent overexpression for connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1), and the consistent under-expression for Foxa3 and epidermal growth factor like domain 7 (EGFL7) in biliary atresia livers (Figure 2a).