Figure 5. Inhibition of STAT6 reduced skin fibrosis and the production of IL-4 and IFN-α from CD4⁺ T cells. (A) H&E staining of skin tissue. The mice were given daily subcutaneous injections of BLM for 2 wk. Next, 10 mg/kg AS1517499, a STAT6 inhibitor, was subcutaneously injected three times a week for 3 wk (wild type [n=3], BLM-treated mice [n=5] and BLM and STAT6 inhibitor-treated mice [n=5]). Scale bars=100 μm. (B) Representative α-SMA- and Col1-stained images of skin tissues. Scale bars=100 μm. (C) Numbers of CD4⁺IL-4⁺ (Th2), IFN-α⁺ CD4⁺ T cells, and IL-4⁺ IFN-α⁺ cells among CD4⁺ T cells from the spleens of mice. (D) Numbers of IL-4⁺ cells and IL-4⁺ IFN-α⁺ cells among CD4⁺ T cells isolated from the spleens of mice. Cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 Ab, anti-CD28 Ab, anti-IFN-γ Ab, and IL-4 with/without AS1517499 for 3 days. Values are means ± SEMs from three independent experiments.

WT, wild type; STAT6 i, STAT6 inhibitor.

^*p<0.05, ^**p<0.01, and ^***p<0.001.