The Expression of NOX4 in Smooth Muscles of Small Airway Correlates with the Disease Severity of COPD

Figure 1

Morphological and immunohistological characterization of airway smooth muscle mass in small airway of COPD lungs. (a)–(d) Morphological characterization of small airways of COPD lung by HE staining; an increased thickness of ASM (brackets and arrows) was observed with disease severities. (a)–(d) Representative images of small airways in control (a), mild (b), moderate (c), and severe (d) COPD lungs. (e)–(h) Immunohistological feature of ASM mass determined by IHC using anti-α-SMA antibody; IHC confirmed an increased thickness of AMS (brackets and arrows) with the disease severity. (e)–(h) Representative IHC images of small airways in control (e), mild (f), moderate (g), and severe (h) COPD lungs. Both of HE and IHC staining showed an increased ASM mass with the disease severity. Bars in (a)–(h): 100 μm.

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