A) The group 6OVA+EtOH had significantly higher TGFβ1 concentration than any of the FA controls (*p<0.005 by 1-way ANOVA). Simvastatin (40 mg/kg) reduced TGFβ1 concentration in lung lavage by 60.4% in the OVA group (p=NS by 1-way ANOVA or t-test). Co-treatment with MA (20 mg/kg) did not reverse this inhibitory statin effect on TGFβ1. Each treatment group had between 5–6 mice.
B) Simvastatin (40 mg/kg) treatment decreased lung lavage absolute macrophage count by 48.3% (*p<0.005 by 1-way ANOVA) in OVA exposed animals. Co-treatment with MA (20 mg/kg) reversed the simvastatin inhibitory effect (p=NS by 1-way ANOVA, but #p=0.0029 by t-test). Each treatment group had between 10–17 mice.
C) By qualitative immunohistochemical assessment, macrophages appear to be the main inflammatory cells responsible for TGFβ1 production under OVA-induced allergic inflammation (image shows the 6OVA+EtOH treatment group: representative slide where TGFβ1 stains brown seen at x400 magnification). Arrows represent inflammatory cells with little-to-no staining for TGFβ1 (likely eosinophils or lymphocytes). Arrow heads represent macrophages that stain densely brown for TGFβ1.