Fig. 1: CS particles in lungs alter ILC phenotypes.

a Experimental schematic showing mouse treatments and sacrifice time points. Week 8 post-CS treatment was regarded as the fibrogenesis stage. b The lung ILC gating strategy. Lineage (Lin) is an antibody cocktail containing CD5, CD45R (B220), CD11b, Ly-6B.2, Gr-1, and Ter-119. Bar graphs comparing ILC percentages (c) and cell numbers (d) in CS or saline-treated counterparts (n = 16 biological replicates). Flow histogram comparing ILCs expressing cytokine receptors, including CD127 (IL-7R), CD25 (IL-2Rα), ST-2 (IL-33R) (e), and IL-18Rα (f) in silicotic or saline-treated lungs. The bar graph compares the MFI of indicated cytokine receptors on ILCs (n = 8 biological replicates). g Flow plot showing the percentage of ILCs expressing the cell retention-related markers CD69, CD103, and CXCR6. Bar graphs compare indicated cell retention marker percentages on ILCs (n = 8 biological replicates). Flow plot showing ILCs expressing MHC-II (h) and ICOS (i) in fibrotic or saline-treated lungs. Bar graphs compare the percentage of ILCs expressing MHC- II (h) and ICOS (i) in silicotic or saline-treated lungs (n = 8 biological replicates). Flow histograms comparing ILCs expressing NRP-1 (j), KLRG1 (k), and PD-1, PD-L1, CD73 (l) in saline or CS-treated lungs. The bar graph compares the MFI of molecules on ILCs in lungs (n = 8 biological replicates). m Flow cytometric analysis of IFN-γ and IL-13 expression in ILCs from saline or CS-treated lung. Bar graphs compare IFN-γ and IL-13 percentages in ILCs (n = 8 biological replicates). FMO control, fluorescence minus one control. Bar graphs represent the combined results of four biologically independent experiments with similar results. Individual mice are plotted on graphs. Data are shown as the mean ± SEM. P values were calculated using two-tailed unpaired Student’s t-tests and indicated in graphs. Source data are provided in a source data file.