Skip to main content
. 2015 May 24;7(21):30068–30083. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.4027

Figure 3. Development of iBALT is increased in aged CS-exposed mice and consists of T and B lymphocytes and follicular dendritic cells.

Figure 3

A. Representative micrographs of HE-stained lung tissue sections from young and old FA and CS-exposed mice showing the presence of iBALT in aged animals after CS exposure; scale bar 100 μm. B. Total volume of iBALT per basal membrane was determined via quantitative morphological assessment. C. Lung tissue mRNA expression of CXCL13 was measured by qPCR. D. Representative micrographs of immunohistochemical stainings for CD3 (T lymphocytes), B220 (B lymphocytes) and CD21 (FDCs) in lung sections from CS-exposed young and old mice; scale bar 100 μm. E. Flow cytometry analysis of whole lung for CD4+ T lymphocyte infiltration reveals increases in Th2 and Th17 cells after CS exposure in aged compared to young mice; Th1 cells were defined by expression of CD4 and IFNγ, Th2 cells by expression of CD4 and IL-4, Th17 cells by expression of CD4 and IL-17A, and regulatory T cells by expression of CD4, CD25 and Foxp3. F. Lung tissue mRNA expression of Th signature cytokines IFNγ and IL-13 and transcription factors Gata3, Rorγt and Foxp3 was measured by qPCR. Data were combined from 2 independent experiments with n = 8 and are given as mean values ± SD; one-way ANOVA following Bonferroni post test with *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.