FIGURE 4.

Cell death markers in old TNC-deficient and WT lungs. Evaluation of apoptosis/necrosis and autophagy markers in lungs of TNC-deficient and WT animals. (A,B): representative results of PARP1 protein detection in whole lung lysates from old TNC-deficient and WT animals by Western blot; quantification is shown in histogram; N = 6–7 animals/genotype. Cropped blots are displayed. (C–E): representative images of lung sections from TNC KO and WT old animals stained for in situ detection of DNA fragmentation typical of apoptosis (blue) and counter-stained with Nuclear Fast Red [(E): positive control]. N = 3–5 animals/genotype. (F–H): representative results of LC3b and p62 protein detection in whole lung lysates from old TNC-deficient and WT animals by Western blot; quantification is shown in histogram; N = 6–7 animals/genotype. Cropped blots are displayed. For histograms: results are expressed as mean ± SD; statistical analyses were made by Student’s t test; statistical significance was set at p < 0.05; *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01.