Fig. 5

AS/LIG/AS_LIG@PPGC NPs inhalation reverses lung fibrosis caused by BLM. (A). The schematic of the study design; n = 8 biological independent animals per group. (B, C). Western blotting analysis of expression and quantification of proteins related to pulmonary fibrosis (α-SMA, COL1A1, FN) in the lung tissue treated as indicated. Data were represented as mean ± SD (n = 3). (D to F). Histological analysis of lung sections on day 8. (D). representative H&E staining. (E). Masson’s trichrome staining [muscle fibers and erythrocytes (red), collagen (blue), and nuclei (black-purple)]. (F). Picrosirius red staining (collagen types I and III) (red). Scale bar = 200 μm. (H to J). Histological analysis of lung sections on day 22. (H). representative H&E staining. (I). Masson’s trichrome staining [muscle fibers and erythrocytes (red), collagen (blue), and nuclei (black-purple)]. (J). Picrosirius red staining (collagen types I and III) (red). Scale bar = 200 μm. (K, L, O). IHC staining analysis of lung sections and quantification of positive area of proteins related to pulmonary fibrosis on day 8. Scale bar = 200 μm. (K). IHC staining analysis of lung sections of α-SMA. (L). IHC staining analysis of lung sections of COL1A1. (O). quantification of positive area about α-SMA, COL1A1. (M, N, P). IHC staining analysis of lung sections and quantification of positive area of proteins related to pulmonary fibrosis on day 22. Scale bar = 200 μm. (M). IHC staining analysis of lung sections of α-SMA. (N). IHC staining analysis of lung sections of COL1A1. (P). quantification of positive area of α-SMA, COL1A1. * P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, and ****P < 0.0001, n.s., not significant, P > 0.05