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. 2016 Feb 10;11(2):e0148323. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148323

Fig 3. Reduced VEGF decreases MMP9 expression and consequently, increases pulmonary extracellular matrix elastin.

Fig 3

Analysis was performed on anatomically matched distal left lobe segments that consisted predominantly of alveoli. (A-B) Representative images of an overlay mask of elastin staining show more prominent elastin in the alveolar septae of mutant mice compared to control mice. (C) Optical density quantification of elastin confirms this statistically significant increase in mutant mice. (D) Western blot analysis for matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) demonstrates a statistically significant decrease in MMP9 expression in mutant mice. Scale bars represent 50 μm. Data are expressed as mean ± SD, *P<0.05 versus control.