Fig. 4.

Interleukin treatment enhances the expression of fibrosis-associated proteins in scleral tissue. The fibrosis-associated marker protein Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF, a–d), and matrix metalloproteinases MMP2 (e–h), MMP3 (i–l), and MMP13 (m–p) were increased in Scx-GFP mouse scleral tissue when stimulated with IL1-ß compared to controls, and the effects were abrogated by addition of dexamethasone (c, g, k, o). Signal analysis revealed statistical significance for all markers when incubated with IL-1ß compared to controls. Insets in the IL1-ß group images show the Scx-GFP channel and reveal co-expression of the respective proteins with Scx-GFP (insets in IL1-ß group). Scale bars: 50 µm