Fig. 1

HuR expression and its correlation with parameters of lung function in the airway epithelium. Immunohistochemical assessment of HuR expression in non-smoking subjects (n = 18), smokers without COPD (n = 20), and smokers with COPD (n = 30). (a) Representative HuR immunostaining (brown staining) in the airways of a nonsmoker (a), a smoker without COPD (b), and a smoker with COPD (c). (b) Quantification of HuR protein levels in the airway epithelium using the integrated optical mean density. The expression of HuR was not correlated with the predicted FEV1% in the airway epithelium of nonsmokers (c), smokers without COPD (d), and smokers with COPD (E) by Spearman’s correlation test. The values are given as the mean ± s.e.m. **P < 0.01 compared with nonsmokers and ##P < 0.01 compared with smokers without COPD