Figure 4

Double immunofluorescence staining to Ki-67 and α-SMA. (a) Distribution and co-expression of proliferation marker (Ki-67) and maker for myofibroblasts and myoblasts (α-SMA) in gastric mucosa of control samples (con) (A–D), limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis (lc) (E–H), moderate diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (sys1) (I–L) and severe (sys2) forms of diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (M–P): epithelium (e), lamina propria (lp), superficial glands (sg), deep glands (dg), Ki-67 or α-SMA positive cells (arrows). Note increase in expression of both markers in patients with systemic sclerosis, particularly in moderate diffuse cutaneous form (sys1). (b) Percentage of Ki-67 positive cells in the superficial glands and surface epithelium (A) and deeper glands (B) of gastric mucosa in control samples and different forms of systemic sclerosis (c). Percentage of α-SMA positive cells in superficial parts of lamina propria (A) and deeper parts of lamina propria of gastric mucosa in control samples and different forms of systemic sclerosis. Legends: control (con); limited cutaneous (lc); moderate diffuse cutaneous (sys1); severe diffuse cutaneous (sys2) systemic sclerosis. Significant differences are indicated by *p < 0.01, **p < 0.001, ***p < 0.0001 (Kruskall-Wallis test).