Figure 5

Graphical representation of the elastic fiber content in the lung parenchyma (%), the total collagen content in the lung parenchyma (%), the MMP-2 immunostained area (µm²/µm²) and relative TGF-β mRNA expression of the lung tissue. Each point represents one animal and bars show median. *p < 0.05 compared to the LPS5w group. #p < 0.05 compared to the LPS + PM group. The two-way ANOVA analyses showed that the percentage of elastic fibers was influenced only by the PM exposure. The percentage of the collagen content was influenced by the LPS nebulization and by the interaction between the LPS and PM exposure. The MMP-2 expression in the lung tissue was influenced by the LPS nebulization and PM exposure. The mRNA expression of the TGF-β was influenced only by the LPS nebulization.