Fig. 4
FGF2 protein abundance was higher in the HDM-treated mouse lungs and positively correlated with serum levels for total IgE and anti-HDM specific IgE. a Western blotting and RT-qPCR analysis for fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) expression levels in the mouse model. GAPDH is used as a loading control. Data are represented as mean ± standard error of the mean (***P < 0.001) through Student’s t-test. b Correlation between FGF2 protein abundance and total IgE or anti-HDM-specific IgE levels in the serum. The R2 and P values are determined through Pearson’s correlation analysis. Representative confocal images of the mouse lung section for FGF2 staining around the c bronchi and d alveolar areas (scale bar = 20 μm). White arrows indicate FGF2-positive staining. Representative immunofluorescence images for FGF2 deposition in e the subepithelial basement membrane, f perivascular inflammatory cells, and g peribronchial inflammatory cell populations in HDM-treated mouse lungs (scale bar = 20 μm). S saline, H house dust mite (HDM), CC10 Clara cell secretory protein, pro-SPC pro-surfactant protein C, epi epithelium, bv blood vessel