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

Figure 3

The expression of proliferation of ASM cells in COPD lungs. (a)–(d) The expression of proliferative marker PCNA in ASM cells determined by an IHC assay; an increased number of PCNA positive ASM cells (arrowheads) were observed with disease severities. (a)–(d) Representative IHC images of PCNA for small airway of control (a), mild (b), moderate (c), and severe (d) COPD lungs. (e)-(f) Quantitative analysis of the proliferation of ASM cells and disease severity in COPD. (e) The percentage of PCNA positive ASM cells and (f) the numbers of ASM cells per square millimeter in the area of ASM in small airway were increased with disease severities. Data was presented as the mean ± SD in (e) and (f). Bars in (a)–(d): 100 μm; brackets in (a)–(d) represented the ASM layers.

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