Fig. 1: Fibrotic ECM promoted normal lung fibroblast activation.
From: Macrophage-derived GPNMB trapped by fibrotic extracellular matrix promotes pulmonary fibrosis
a CT images (top) and H&E staining (bottom) showing PF in mice after instillation of silica; scale bar = 200 μm. b The pulmonary function of mice in the two groups; n ≥ 10 animals, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.1. c Schematic diagram of the protocol by which ECM was harvested. d H&E staining (top) and Masson’s trichrome staining (bottom) showing that PF occurred in the ECM of mice after silica instillation; immunofluorescence staining showing that the expression of ECM components changed after silica instillation; scale bar = 200 μm. e Young’s modulus of ECM in the two groups; n ≥ 3 independent experiments. f The effect of fibrotic ECM on fibroblast viability; n ≥ 5 independent experiments, ***p < 0.001. g The effect of fibrotic ECM on fibroblast proliferation; n ≥ 5 independent experiments, ***p < 0.001. h–j The effect of fibrotic ECM on fibroblast activation; n ≥ 5 independent experiments, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.1. k The effect of fibrotic ECM on fibroblast migration; n ≥ 5 independent experiments, scale bar = 200 μm. NS, normal saline; Nor-ECM, normal ECM; Fib- ECM, fibrotic ECM.
