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. 2020 Mar 11;15(3):e0229445. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229445

Fig 6. RSPO3 induces multiple fibrotic mediators.

Fig 6

A, Cytokine secretion in mouse hepatocytes and Kupffer cells treated with RSPO3. B, RT-PCR data for MMP-7 in bronchial epithelial cells treated with RSPO3. C, RT-PCR data for MMP-7 in alveolar epithelial cells treated with RSPO3. D, Expression of α-SMA, RSPO3, and MMP-7 was analyzed by IHC in normal human and IPF patient lungs. In normal human lungs, α-SMA expression was observed in vascular smooth muscle (black arrow), RSPO3 or MMP-7 was weakly or rarely present in alveolar epithelium. In IPF patient lungs, α-SMA was present in vascular smooth muscle and myofibroblasts (red arrows) in fibroblastic foci. In addition, both RSPO3 and MMP-7 were highly expressed in hyperplastic type II epithelial cells (arrowhead). Data is shown as mean ± SEM. Statistical comparison was done using paired student t-tests. *p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, **** p < 0.0001.