Fig. 4.

Inhibition of autophagy ameliorated VILI in mice. Wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice were subjected to mechanical ventilation (VT) and intravenously injected with 3-MA (a key inhibitor of autophagy). a Lung injury was analyzed by HE staining and b lung injury was scored. c Mouse lungs were collected for calculation of the wet-to-dry ratio. d Total protein levels in BALF were analyzed using a BCA kit. e Neutrophils in BALF were analyzed by flow cytometry. f The contents of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, in BALF were measured by ELISA. g Protein expression of LC3 I/II and cytokines was analyzed by western blot. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001 vs. the indicated group