Fig. 7: Mtb-AG upregulates MMP gene expression and induces more fibrosis in infected rabbit lungs. | Communications Biology

Fig. 7: Mtb-AG upregulates MMP gene expression and induces more fibrosis in infected rabbit lungs.

From: Aggregation state of Mycobacterium tuberculosis impacts host immunity and augments pulmonary disease pathology

Fig. 7

a Expression level of MMP family genes was determined by qPCR using RNA from rabbit lungs infected with Mtb-AG or Mtb-SC at 1 and 4 weeks post infection. Expression levels of each target gene were normalized to GAPDH levels. Levels in uninfected animals were used to calibrate the values in Mtb-SC or Mtb-AG-infected groups. The experiment was repeated with three biological replicates in duplicates. Values plotted are mean ± standard error. Data were analyzed by Mann–Whitney U Test. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01. b Representative trichrome stained lung section of rabbits infected with Mtb-SC. c Representative trichrome stained lung section of rabbits infected with Mtb-AG showing the extent of collagen deposition and fibrosis (blue color) at 4 weeks. Original magnification: ×400 (b, c). Scale bar in b and c is 50 microns.

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