Fig. 5

Altered WNT/β-catenin pathway in experimental COPD models. A–D CS exposure following elastin challenge in mouse lung tissues. A Experimental outline. Mice were exposed to CS (n = 5) or room air (n = 4) for 2 weeks and were hosted at room air for another 2 weeks. Mice were then challenged with elastin (Eln, 100 μg) or normal saline (NS) intratracheally (i.t.) for 3 times at day 29, 30, and 31, and were sacrificed 48 h after the last elastin challenge. B The mRNA levels of WNT10b, WNT2, LRP6, LGR6, FZD4, CTNNB1, LEF1 and FOSL1 in lung tissue of CE and air control mouse models, were assessed by qPCR. Results are presented as relative mRNA level (mean ± SEM). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 by the Student t-test. C Representative immunofluorescent staining of lung tissue. Green fluorescence represents positive phosphorylated β-catenin cells. Blue fluorescence represents DAPI. D Semi-quantification of positive phosphorylated β-catenin cells. E, F CS exposure in mouse lung tissues. E Experimental outline. Mice were exposed to cigarette smoke (n = 6) or filtered room air (n = 5), and lung tissue was obtained after 3 months. F The mRNA levels of WNT10b, WNT2, LRP6, LGR6, FZD4, CTNNB1, LEF1, and FOSL1 in lung tissue of CS and air control mouse models, were assessed by qPCR. Results are presented as relative mRNA level (mean ± SEM). *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001 by the Student t-test