Fig. 6

Activation of the WNT pathway reduces phosphorylated-β-catenin and COPD-like airway inflammation. Mice were exposed to CS or room air 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 injected with lithium chloride (LiCl) or NS intraperitoneally for 5 times at day 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 (Air + NS, n = 5; CE + NS, n = 4; Air + LiCl, n = 5; CE + LiCl, n = 6). Then mice were sacrificed 5 h after the last LiCl injection. A Representative expression and localization of phosphorylated β-catenin in mice lung tissues by immunofluorescence. B Semi-quantitative analysis of the immunofluorescence results. Results are presented as relative number of positive phosphorylated β-catenin cells (mean ± SEM). *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001 by one-way ANOVA. C The expression of phosphorylated β-catenin in mice lung tissue was analyzed by Western Blot. D Semi-quantitative analysis of the Western Blot results. Results are presented as relative protein expression concentration (mean ± SEM). **P < 0.01 by one-way ANOVA. E H&E staining for histologic assessment of lung tissue. D The mRNA levels of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-17A. Results are presented as relative mRNA level (mean ± SEM). CE + NS vs. Air + NS, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01; CE + LiCl vs. CE + NS, ^#P < 0.05, ^##P < 0.01 by one-way ANOVA