Figure 1.

Characterization of cathepsin K overexpression in the lungs of mice. Wild-type and cath K tg mice were instilled with saline only (mock-treatment). Twenty-four hours later, cathepsin K mRNA levels were determined in lysates of alveolar macrophages and lung parenchymal tissue of mock-treated cath K tg mice as compared to mock-treated wild-type mice (A). In addition, cathepsin K protein was determined in lysates of alveolar macrophages (B), freshly isolated type II alveolar epithelial cells (C), lung parenchymal tissue (D), and concentrated BAL fluid supernatant (E) of mock-treated cath K transgenic and wild-type mice by western blot analysis. Data represent at least 3–5 independent experiments. (F-I), immunohistochemistry of cath K protein in lung tissue of wild-type mice (F, H) or cath K tg mice (G, I). (F, G) staining with isotype-matched control antibody; (H, I) cathepsin K specific staining. Arrows point to alveolar macrophages in situ. Photogmicrographic illustration is representative of at least n = 3 independent analyses. Original magnification, × 40