Figure 3
From: Overexpression of cathepsin K during silica-induced lung fibrosis and control by TGF-β
Cat K is more strongly upregulated in response to silica in "fibrosis-resistant" than in "fibrosis-prone" mice. BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice were instilled with PBS (control) or silica. (A) OH-proline lung contents 2 months after treatment. ** P < 0.01 for comparison of silica-treated mice between both strains. (B) Total TGF-β1 lung contents 1 month after instillation. ** P < 0.01 for comparison between silicotic and control lungs. (C) Cat K transcripts quantification on RNA extracted from lung tissue collected at different time intervals after instillation. Ns not significant, * P < 0.05 for comparison of silica-treated mice between strains at 1 and 2 months. Cat K expressions are not (significantly) different between all control conditions whereas it is significantly upregulated in all silica-treated groups compared to corresponding control groups. Values of 4 to 5 control mice and 5 to 6 silica-treated mice in each group are presented as means ± SEM.