Nuclear phospho-Smad2/3 in the media is decreased in IL-4−/−IL-13−/−
Schistosoma-exposed mice. (A) Representative images showing immunostaining for phospho-Smad2/3 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in Schistosoma-exposed wild-type (WT), IL-4−/−, IL-13−/−, and IL-4−/−IL-13−/− mice (images representative of n = 4/group; asterisks, vessel lumens; arrows, representative positive nuclear-stained cells; scale bars, 50 μm). (B) Quantification of the fraction of DAPI-positive pixels that also stain positive for phospho-Smad2/3 in the media of Schistosoma-exposed WT, IL-4−/−, IL-13−/−, and IL-4−/−IL-13−/− mice (mean ± SD; n = 4 specimens per group; analysis of variance, P = 0.002; post hoc Tukey test, ***P < 0.005). (C) Higher-magnification (×60 oil lens) representative images showing immunostaining for phospho-Smad2/3 and α-smooth muscle actin in Schistosoma-exposed WT and IL-4−/−IL-13−/− mice (asterisks, vessel lumens; arrows, representative media cells; scale bars, 50 μm). DAPI = 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; IP/IV = intraperitoneal and intravenous.