Figure 1 | Laboratory Investigation

Figure 1

From: Increased expression of latent TGF-β-binding protein 4 affects the fibrotic process in scleroderma by TGF-β/SMAD signaling

Figure 1

Expression of α-SMA and LTBP-4 was increased in the skin lesions of BLM-treated mice. (a) H&E, Masson’s staining, and IHC for α-SMA, LTBP-4 in saline-treated mice, and BLM mice. For H&E and Masson’s staining, the original magnification is × 200 and the scale bar is 100 μm. For α-SMA and LTBP-4 IHC, the original magnification is × 400 and the scale bar is 100 μm. Black arrow indicates α-SMA-positive staining and LTBP-4-positive staining. (b) Dermal thickness was calculated at × 200 microscopic magnification by measuring the distance between the dermal–epidermal junction and the derma–subcutaneous fat junction (μm; as indicated by H&E staining) in five randomly selected fields for each skin section. (c) Expression of Ltbp-4 and other ECM-related gene level in mouse skin were increased in the BLM group compared with the saline-treated group; the mRNA levels were calculated using a relative ratio to Gapdh. Bars show the mean±s.e.m. results from five mice in each group. **P<0.01, *P<0.05. H&E, hematoxylin/eosin; IHC, immunohistochemistry; LTBP-4, latent TGF-β-binding protein 4; α-SMA, α-smooth muscle actin.

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