Figure 1
From: Sialidase inhibitors attenuate pulmonary fibrosis in a mouse model
There is decreased sialylation in pulmonary fibrosis. (a) Human lung sections were stained with SNA to detect sialic acids, or PNA to detect desialylated polysaccharides. IPF < 50% FVC indicates a pulmonary fibrosis patient with poor lung function; COPD > 80% FEV1 indicates a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patient with relatively normal lung function. Positive staining is red, with nuclei counterstained blue. Bar is 0.2 mm. (b) Quantification of lectin staining for human lung sections with ImageJ. (c) Mouse lungs at day 21 after saline or bleomycin treatment were stained with MAL II to detect sialic acid on glycoconjugates or with PNA to detect desialylated polysaccharides. Bar is 0.2 mm. (d) Quantification of lectin staining for mouse lung sections with ImageJ. For (B) and (D), values are mean ± SEM, n = 3 or 4; **indicates p < 0.005, ****p < 0.0001 (t-test). (e) BAL fluid from mice at day 21 after saline (S) or bleomycin were analyzed by western blotting, staining with MAL II or PNA. *Indicates bleomycin causing decreased sialylation on a protein and arrow indicates bleomycin causing the gain of a desialylated protein. Molecular masses in kDa are at left. Images in A, C, and E are representative of 4 patients or 3 mice per group. (f) Total sialic acid from the day 21 lung tissue of saline- or bleomycin-treated mice. Values are mean ± SEM, n = 3.
