Figure 2: Vimentin deficiency prevents asbestos-induced lung injury and fibrosis.

WT and Vim^−/− mice were treated with PBS containing either 200 μg of asbestos crocidolite or the control particle titanium dioxide (TiO₂), intratracheally. Markers of inflammation and fibrosis were assessed 3 and 6 weeks after instillation, respectively. (a) Total cell count (macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, erythrocytes and lymphocytes ) and (b) protein levels were assessed in BALF collected from Vim^−/− mice 3 weeks after asbestos administration. Inflammasome activation in WT and Vim^−/− mice was measured by ELISA for caspase-1 (c) and IL-1β (d) levels in BALF at the same time point. Collagen deposition was evaluated in asbestos-treated Vim^−/− and WT mice by Masson’s trichrome and Picrosirius red staining of lung slices (e; scale bar, 200 μm) and by measuring total collagen content by Sircol assay (f). Data are from two independent experiments n=6–8 animals per group, and presented as mean±s.d. *P<0.05, **P<0.001, relative to WT versus Vim^−/−, by one-way analysis of variance with a correction provided by the Bonferroni multiple comparisons test.