Figure 2.
Remodeling in IL-18 transgenic (Tg) mice. Wild-type (Tg−) and IL-18 Tg (Tg+) mice were randomized to normal water (Dox−) or water with doxycycline (Dox+) for 1–4 months. All data represent evaluations that were done after 4 months of doxycycline (Dox+) water administration unless otherwise specified. The effects of IL-18 on emphysematous alveolar destruction (hematoxylin and eosin [H&E], ×4) (a), alveolar chord length (b), the kinetics of alveolar enlargement (c), fibrotic airway remodeling (trichrome, ×40), mucus metaplasia (periodic acid–Schiff [PAS], ×20) (d), kinetics of collagen accumulation (e), kinetics of the mucus response (f), and vascular remodeling and myosin immunohistochemistry (IHC) (g) are illustrated. Right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy was assessed by calculating the ratio of the weights of the RV free wall and the interventricular septum (IVS) plus left ventricular (LV) free wall in h. In the PAS stains in d mucus stains purple. In the trichrome stains in d and g collagen fibers stain blue. In the IHC evaluation in g, myosin-positive cells stain brown. The values in b, c, e, f, and h represent the mean ± SEM of evaluations in a minimum of eight mice. # P < 0.001. d and g are representative of a minimum of five similar evaluations.