Figure 8.

IGFBP2 expression was suppressed in the primary AEC2 cells of fibrotic lungs obtained from patients with IPF

(A) IGFBP2 mRNA expression was determined by qPCR in the primary AEC2 cells isolated from fibrotic lung regions of patients with IPF (n = 27) compared with patients with COPD (n = 9) or HP (n = 5). ∗p < 0.05 and ∗∗p < 0.01, one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post-hoc test.

(B) IGFBP2 mRNA expression in primary AEC2 cells obtained from patients with IPF with smoking history (n = 19) compared with patients with IPF with non-smoking history (n = 6).

(C) IGFBP2 mRNA expression in primary AEC2 cells obtained from patients with IPF with type 2 diabetes (n = 4) compared with patients with IPF with no type 2 diabetes (n = 7).

(D) IGFBP2 mRNA expression determined by qPCR in the primary AEC2 cells obtained from patients with IPF with pulmonary hypertension (MPAP ≥ 25 mmHg) (n = 13) compared with patients with IPF with no pulmonary hypertension (n = 14). MPAP, mean pulmonary artery pressure.

(E) Representative multicolor immunohistological staining of SPC and IGFBP2. Arrows indicate examples of SPC-positive and IGFBP2-positive cells. Staining was performed with lung sections from 2 healthy controls and 2 patients with IPF.

(F) Quantification of percentages of double-positive cells for SPC and IGFBP2 in the fibrotic lung regions of patients with IPF and donor (healthy) controls. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM. NS, not significant; ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, and ∗∗∗∗p < 0.0001, Student’s unpaired two-tailed t test.