Figure 2.

Exogenous FRNK expression reduces lung fibrosis. A: FRNK^−/− and WT mice were challenged with bleomycin (Bleo) or control saline (Sal), as in Figure 1. Recombinant adenoviral vectors (50 μL, 10⁸ plaque forming units) containing Ad-FRNK or control Ad-GFP were instilled intratracheally at day 7 after bleomycin or saline challenge. Lungs were harvested at day 21 after challenge. The whole lung hydroxyproline level was measured and presented as % of hydroxyproline level in Sal-challenged WT mice. B and E: Lung compliance [quasi-static compliance–pressure-volume (PV)] was measured by stepwise PV curves at day 21 after challenge (B). Lung tissue sections were H&E stained, and representative images are shown (E). Original magnification, ×200 (E). C, D, and F: Lungs were harvested at day 14 after bleomycin installation (D and F) or day 3 after adenoviral vector installation (C). Equivalent amounts of whole lung lysate underwent Western blot analysis (one lane per individual animal). Data were represented as means ± SE (n = 10 animals per group). HA, hemagglutinin. ∗P < 0.01.