Figure 3

Accumulated lymphatic endothelial length in solitary non-bronchiolar blood vessels. (A-C) Accumulated lymphatic vessel endothelial length (i.e. the total sum of all lymphatic perimeters) and (D-F) number of lymphatic vessels associated with α-smooth muscle actin-positive solitary blood vessels with a diameter of < 50 μm, 50–100 μm and >100 μm in never smokers, smokers and patients with COPD. Statistical analysis was performed using Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test and Dunn’s multiple comparison post-test. Horizontal lines indicate median value. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01.