Figure 2.

Effect of short-term exposure to WS on total cell number (A), differential cell count (B), and total soluble collagen (C) in BAL; mRNA expression levels of TNF-α (D), IFN-γ (G), and TGF-β1 (J) in the lung; protein concentration of TNF-α in BAL (E) and serum (F), IFN- γ in BAL (H) and serum (I), and TGF-β1 in BAL (K) and serum (L). Total cells and the number of macrophages, neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes were analyzed. Total collagen synthesis was measured with Sircol reagent in BAL fluid recovered from guinea pigs exposed to WS and filtered-ambient-air-exposed controls. qRT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of expression, and ELISA was employed to detect the protein levels in BAL and serum (n = 8). Statistical analyses were one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey–Kramer post hoc test. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01 compared with the control.