Fig. 7: Expression of IRF3 and p65 in SSc skin fibroblasts.
From: Centromere defects, chromosome instability, and cGAS-STING activation in systemic sclerosis
IF showing the expression cGAS-STING downstream factors (red) Phospho-IRF3 (a) and Phospho p65 (RELA) (b) in SSc skin fibroblasts. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI (blue). IRF3 and p65 are phosphorylated at serine residues following cGAS-STING activation. Phosphorylated IRF3 forms a dimer and translocates to the nucleus to activate IFN-β and other cytokines. P65 (RELA) translocates to the nucleus after cGAS-STING activation. Both proteins activate the IFN-β pathway. The scale bar is shown at the bottom right. The bar graphs (c–d) show the mean fluorescence level of respective phopho-protein expression in SSc patients compared to healthy skin fibroblasts (n = 9 micrographs). Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Dunnett’s multiple comparisons test. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. a Normal vs. 025 p = 0.0002; Normal vs. 111 p = 0.0315; Normal vs. 43 p = 0.0406; Normal vs. 116 p = 0.0016. b Normal vs. 116 p = 0.0066), the other p values are <0.0001. Data are presented as mean values +/− SD. Source Data are provided as a Source Data file.
