Fig. 2.

STAT3 inhibition with C188-9 decreased dermal fibrosis in the bleomycin model

Histologicial examination of skin sections stained with H&E (A), Mason’s Trichome (B) and α-SMA antibodies (C), from PBS-treated mice exposed to DMSO (left, similar results were observed in PBS-treated mice exposed to C188-9, data not shown), BLM-treated mice treated with DMSO vehicle control (middle), and BLM-treated mice treated with C188-9 (right). These images revealed that STAT3 inhibition reduces dermal fibrosis. Images are representative of 10–12 mice from each group. Scale bars: ×4, 200 μm. (D) Dermal thickness was measured to determine the degree of dermal fibrosis, demonstrating reduced dermal fibrosis with C188-9 treatment. Data are presented as mean (s.e.m.), n = 10–12 mice per group. (*P ≤ 0.05 PBS DMSO vs BLM DMSO; ^#P ≤ 0.05 BLM DMSO vs BLM C188-9). (E) Soluble collagen protein levels were measured using Sircol Assay from skin samples obtained from PBS-treated mice exposed to DMSO or C188-9 and BLM-treated mice exposed to DMSO or C188-9. Data presented as mean microgram collagen per milligram tissue ± s.e.m., n = 10–12 mice per group (*P ≤ 0.05 PBS DMSO vs BLM DMSO; ^#P ≤ 0.05 BLM DMSO vs BLM C188-9).