Figure 7.

Dioscin protected alveolar epithelial cells from injury. (A) Alveolar areas of mice treated for 7 d were stained with H&E. Representative images of staining are shown (n=4-5 per group). (B C) Representative flow cytometry plots and quantification of EpCAM and FSP-1 double positive population in lung single cell suspension at 7 d. (n=5). (D) Relative mRNA levels of epithelial cell markers including Occuludin (Ocln), E-cadherin (Cdh1), Sftpc and (E) mesenchymal cell markers including vimentin (Vim) and FSP-1 in lungs from treated mice at 7 d (n=6 per group). The experiment was performed in triplicate. (F) E-cadherin- and N-cadherin-positive cells were detected by immunofluorescence analysis on the lung sections at 56 d. Nuclei were visualized with DAPI (blue). Scale bar indicates 100 μm. (G, H) Western blot analysis and quantification of vimentin in lungs of treated mice at 56 d (n=4). β-Actin was used as the loading control. Quantification of Vimentin levels relative to β-Actin is shown below the band. *, P<0.05; **, P<0.01. Error bars indicate the mean ± SD.