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Fig. 9 | Respiratory Research

Fig. 9

From: Acute lung injury by gastric fluid instillation: activation of myofibroblast apoptosis during injury resolution

Fig. 9

Apoptosis-related ECM synthesis/degradation imbalance. Apoptosis is involved in the repair phase of gastric-fluid induced ALI, affecting myofibroblasts among other mesenchymal cells that are part of intra-alveolar buds of granulation tissue. Reduction in myofibroblast number results in reduction of new collagen synthesis. Since myofibroblasts are also an important source of TIMP-2, synthesis of this inhibitor is also reduced, leaving increased MMP-2 activity unbalanced and shifting the ECM synthesis/degradation balance toward degradation of pre-formed ECM

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