Figure 6. Effect of WT and pre-elafin mutants on lung histopathology and neutrophil influx in an experimental model of emphysema.

Animals treated with PPE were given the indicated inhibitor, or saline only (PPE), three times a week for 2 weeks, at which time they were killed. Control animals (Ctrl) received vehicle only. (A) Representative lung slices. (B) L_m calculated from lung slices (15 microscopic fields per animal). *, Only control animals and those receiving PPE and WT pre-elafin show statistical differences compared with animals instilled with PPE only (P≤0.003; n=4–12). (C) Neutrophil influx in BAL. Animals received the indicated inhibitor 1 h post-PPE instillation and BAL were collected 24 h post-PPE administration for neutrophil cell counts. *Statistically different from the animals who received only PPE (P≤0.012; n=4). All results are expressed as means±S.E.M. Comparisons were made using ANOVA followed by a Fisher's protected least-significant difference test with Statview for Windows version 5.0 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, U.S.A.). Pre-elafin, WT pre-elafin; M25K, pre-elafin^M25K; M25G, pre-elafin^M25G.