Fig. 2: TB patients share certain pathogenic mediators with LUAD and sarcoidosis patients.

a Representative images of histologic and immunohistochemical analysis of collagen fibers in NC, TB, LUAD, and sarcoidosis lung sections (n = 8, 10, 12, and 8, respectively). Fibrous matrix deposits (blue) were identified by Masson’s trichrome staining. Arrows indicate granulomatous lesions. Scale bars, 100 µm. b, c Quantitative analysis of collagen I (b) and collagen III (c) expression as in a. Four independent visual fields were examined (mean ± s.e.m. of n = 4). P > 0.05, not significant (ns); **P < 0.01; ****P < 0.0001 (one-way ANOVA). d The overall survival (OS) of lung LUAD patients from TCGA was compared between individuals with high or low levels of MKI67 mRNA transcription. Hazard ratio (HR), 95% confidence interval and log-rank P-values are shown. e Quantitative PCR analysis of MKI67 mRNA in NC, TB and LUAD groups. f Representative images of histologic and Ki-67 immunohistochemical analysis of NC, TB, and LUAD lung sections (n = 8, 10, and 12, respectively). The asterisk indicates the necrotizing focus. Scale bars, 200 µm. g Quantitative analysis of Ki-67 expression as in f. Four independent visual fields were examined (mean ± s.e.m. of n = 4). P > 0.05, not significant (ns); ****P < 0.0001 (one-way ANOVA). h–l Quantitative PCR analysis of MMP12 (h), ADAMDEC1 (i), CCL19 (j), CXCL13 (k), and CYP27B1 (l) mRNAs in NC, TB, and sarcoidosis groups. For e, h–l, Box-whisker plot indicates the interquartile range (box), the median value (line within the box) and the maximum and minimum value (whiskers). P > 0.05, not significant (ns); ****P < 0.0001 (n = 40, 35, 48, and 21 in NC, TB, LUAD, and sarcoidosis groups, respectively, one-way ANOVA). Results are representatives from three independent experiments.