Fig. 4.

Eosinophil granules are mitogenic for pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). A: number of PASMCs after 48 h of stimulation with eosinophil granule extract or vehicle control as measured by a fluorescent assay (n = 3 for both groups). PASMCs were prepared from 5 WT mice and pooled for analysis. B: representative Western blot of PASMC protein extracts following incubation with eosinophil granule extract for the indicated times and reacted with antibody to phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt) and total Akt. The experiment was repeated 3 times. C: relative quantification of the ratio of phosphorylated Akt (p-AKT) and total Akt levels in PASMC protein extracts after stimulation with eosinophil granule extracts for the indicated times (data pooled from 3 separate experiments). D: representative Western blot of PASMC protein extracts following incubation with eosinophil granule extract for the indicated times and reacted with antibody to phosphorylated ERK and total ERK. The experiment was repeated 3 times. E: relative quantification of the ratio of phosphorylated ERK and total ERK levels in PASMC protein extracts after stimulation with eosinophil granule extracts for the indicated times (data pooled from 3 separate experiments).