Figure 2.

FBLN7 KO protects mice against age-related cardiac fibrosis. Cardiac fibrosis was assessed in wild-type (WT) and FBLN7 knockout (KO) mice at 2 months and 18 months of age. A) Representative images of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of hearts from the four groups of mice. The lower panel shows the enlargement of the black box. B) Representative images of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) staining for the four groups of mice, with quantifications displayed around. The lower panel shows the enlargement of the white box. C) Representative micrographs of Masson's trichrome staining in heart sections from the four groups of mice, showing three different views: upper (perivascular), middle (global), and lower (interstitial). Quantifications of fibrotic areas are presented at the bottom. D) Representative images of heart sections stained with Sirius red. E) Representative micrographs of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for Collagen I and III, along with corresponding statistical plots shown below. Both perivascular and interstitial views are included. F) Representative western blot images and quantifications of collagen I, collagen III and FBLN7 protein levels are presented. Error bars are SEM. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001.