Figure 7.

Runx2 was expressed in DHBECs and pulmonary epithelium of patients with asthma. A–C) Runx2 was expressed along with mucin 5AC in DHBECs, but not NHBECs. NHBECs and DHBECs were cultured for 3 to 4 d to 70 to 80% confluence. Mucin 5AC and Runx2 protein expression was detected by Western blot analysis (A) and quantified by normalizing to α-tubulin level (B, C, respectively). *P < 0.01 compared to NHBECs (n = 3). D, E) Runx2 was highly expressed along with mucus production in pulmonary epithelium of patients with asthma. D) Mucus production was detected by PAS staining for mucin (top), and Runx2 expression was detected by IHC staining (bottom). Arrows point to PAS-stained mucin. Scale bar, 100 µm. E) Quantification of mucin production and Runx2 level in asthmatic lungs (AL) by normalizing to staining intensity in healthy lungs (HL), respectively. Shown are relative levels. *P < 0.01 compared to healthy lungs (n = 5).