Fig. 3

Effects of Epac regulators on airway remodeling in chronic asthmatic mice. Female BALB/c mice were sensitized at days 0, 7 and 14, and challenged 3 times a week for 6 weeks after day 21 in chronic asthma group. Mice were received an intratracheal (i.t.). injection of PBS, or an i.t. injection of 25 μg 8-pCPT-2′-O-Me-cAMP (8pCPT), or an intraperitoneal (i.p.). injection of 10 mg/kg ESI-09 30 min before each challenge. Littermates only received allergen challenge as control. Lung sections were stained with HE, PAS and Masson (arrow) (× 200) (a). Inflammatory score, PAS-positive and Masson-positive areas per unit length were determined (b). Furthermore, α-SMA, mainly expressed on airway smooth cells, were analysed in lung tissues by immunohistochemistry (arrow) (× 200) (c), and α-SMA-positive areas per unit length were determined (d). All data are expressed as mean ± SEM of three independent experiments (n = 6–8). ^***P < 0.001; ^**P < 0.01; ^*P < 0.05