Fig. 8

CHST3 siRNA improved the reduction of the elastin in the alveolar walls. a Elastica-van Gieson staining of the alveolar wall in untreated lung (d0) or 7 or 21 days after PPE administration. Elastin appeared as distinct blue-black lines through the alveolar walls. Boxes indicate deposition of elastin in alveolar walls. Inserts show high magnification of boxes. Cont siRNA mice on day7 and 21 show discontinuous elastin deposition in walls. CHST3 siRNA mice on day7 and 21 show continuous elastin deposition. Scale bar 100 μm. b Images show the area occupied by elastic fibers using imaging software, Image J (red area). c Quantification of alveolar wall elastin. Control group mice had significantly lower levels of elastin detected within alveolar walls compared with untreated lung from day 7. CHST3 siRNA treatment suppressed the decreased levels of elastin on day 21. (n = 5 per group). *p < 0.01 versus the Sham group. ^† p < 0.01 versus the Control siRNA group