Fig. 2

Antifibrotic effects of vildagliptin were associated with EndMT inhibition in septic lungs. a Flow cytometry (FCM) analyses revealed that the percentage of α-SMA⁺-gated PVECs significantly increased in LPS-induced pulmonary fibrosis, and this increase was attenuated by systemic administration of vildagliptin (*P < 0.05, N = 5). b Representative FCM panels with α-SMA⁺-gated PVECs. c FCM analyses revealed that the percentage of S100A4⁺-gated PVECs significantly increased in LPS-induced pulmonary fibrosis, and the increase was attenuated by systemic administration of vildagliptin (*P < 0.05, N = 5). d Representative FCM panels with S100A4⁺-gated PVECs. e Gene expression of mesenchymal-specific markers (Col1a1, Col1a2 and S100a4) in isolated PVECs significantly increased 28 days after LPS challenge, whereas gene expression of endothelial specific markers in isolated PVECs (Pecam1 and Cdh5) significantly decreased. Moreover, expression of Twist2, a transcription factor related to EndMT in PVECs was significantly increased 28 days after LPS challenge. All of these changes were significantly attenuated by systemic administration of vildagliptin (*P < 0.05, N = 5). Values are means ± SEM