Figure 1.

nSMase-2 labeling in human lung tissue.

Notes: Representative images for nSMase-2 expression (brown) within the peripheral lung tissue from (A, D, G) NS, (B, E, H) S, and (C, F, I) COPD patients. nSMase-2 was detected within the small airway epithelium (A–F) with a more pronounced expression toward the apical surface (inset arrow). nSMase-2 was also detected within the alveolar macrophages and alveolar walls (G–I). nSMase-2-positive alveolar macrophages (black arrows) observed near alveolar macrophages lacking nSMase-2 expression (red arrows). Magnification ×200 (A–C) ×600 (D–I).

Abbreviations: NS, nonsmoker; S, smoker.