Fig. 2

AXT alleviated CS combined with CSE -induced small airway fibrosis

(A): HE‑staining, and Masson-staining of small airway: (1) control group, (2) cigarette smoke (CS) exposure combined cigarette smoke extract (CSE) intraperitoneal injection (CSE group), (3) CS exposure combined CSE intraperitoneal injection + 10 mg/kg body weight of AXT (CSE + L-AXT), (4) CS exposure combined CSE intraperitoneal injection + 50 mg/kg body weight of AXT (CSE + M-AXT), and (5) CS exposure combined CSE intraperitoneal injection + 100 mg/kg body weight of AXT (CSE + H-AXT); (B): The epithelium area by H&E staining was assessed in small airway and normalized to BM(bronchial basement membrane) (µm); (C): The cell (nuclei) number of the epithelium by H&E staining was assessed in small airway and normalized to BM (µm); (D): The peribronchiolar collagen deposition rate in each groups, normalized by per µm BM; *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001