Fig. 1From: Elevated expression of macrophage MERTK exhibits profibrotic effects and results in defective regulation of efferocytosis function in pulmonary fibrosisLung macrophage efferocytosis function in IPF patients is not enhanced by elevated MERTK expression. A Efferocytosis (indicated by white arrowheads) of human lung macrophages under fluorescence microscope and ratio of macrophages that recognize and phagocytize CFSE + apoptotic bodies from A549 cells (HC, n = 10; IPF, n = 9). B Flow cytometry analysis of human lung macrophage efferocytosis. Lung macrophages were pre-gated on CD68 + area, ratio and capacity of macrophage efferocytosis were measured by CFSE-positive ratio (CFSE + /CFSE + CD68 +) and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CFSE, respectively (HC, n = 8; IPF, n = 7). C Flow cytometry analysis of mitochondrial membrane potential of human lung macrophages. Lung macrophages were pre-gated on CD68 + area, and their mean fluorescence intensities of JC-1 monomers (FITC) and aggregates (PE) were analyzed by flow cytometry (HC, n = 9; IPF, n = 9). D The mRNA expression of MERTK, CD36, Rac1 and Axl in human lung macrophages was detected by qRT-PCR (n = 6–20 samples per group). E Representative images and MFI of MERTK immunostaining in macrophages from lung sections of IPF patients and healthy controls (n = 5). Macrophages were indicated by white arrowheads. Scale bar = 50 μm. Data were presented as mean ± SEM. T-tests or Mann–Whitney tests were used for two-group (HC and IPF) comparions. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ****p < 0.0001; n.s., not significantBack to article page