Genetic Deletion and Pharmacological Inhibition of PI3Kγ Reduces Neutrophilic Airway Inflammation and Lung Damage in Mice with Cystic Fibrosis-Like Lung Disease

Figure 2

Genetic deletion of PI3Kγ decreases emphysema in βENaC-Tg mice. Mouse lungs were fixed in 4% formalin and embedded in paraffin and 5 µm sections were stained with hematoxylin/eosin; assessment of emphysema included the internal surface area (ISA) at postfixation lung volume and the morphometric assessment of the average inter-alveolar distance (mean linear intercept: Lm). (a) ISA and (b) Lm from 8-week-old wild type (), βENaC-Tg, , and /βENaC-Tg mice ( = 8–10 mice for each group). Comparison among groups was performed using one-way analysis of variance. (a) versus /βENaC-Tg, versus /βENaC-Tg, /βENaC-Tg versus /βENaC-Tg; (b) versus /βENaC-Tg, and versus /βENaC-Tg, /βENaC-Tg versus /βENaC-Tg mice. (c) Representative histological sections from the lung of 8-week-old βENaC-Tg mousee (left) showing evident areas of emphysema and /βENaC-Tg (right) mouse showing a focal areas of mild emphysema. Haematoxylin and eosin stain. Original magnification ×40.

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