Fig. 3
From: Macrophage-derived MCPIP1 mediates silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis via autophagy
SiO2 induced macrophage activation via autophagy. a Representative western blot showing the effects of SiO2 (50 μg/cm2) on the expression of the M1 marker iNOS, the M2a marker Arginase 1 and the M2c marker SOCS3 in U937 cells. b Densitometric analyses of five separate experiments suggested that SiO2 induced iNOS, Arginase 1 and SOCS3 expression in a time-dependent manner. *p < 0.05 vs iNOS expression at 0 h; #p < 0.05 vs Arginase 1 expression at 0 h; $ p < 0.05 vs SOCS3 expression at 0 h. c Representative western blot showing the effects of 3-MA on the SiO2-induced expression of iNOS, Arginase 1 and SOCS3 in U937 cells at 24 h following 50 μg/cm2 SiO2 treatment. d Densitometric analyses of five separate experiments suggested that 3-MA attenuated the SiO2-induced increases in iNOS, Arginase 1 and SOCS3 expression. *p < 0.05 vs the corresponding control group; #p < 0.05 vs the corresponding SiO2 group. e Representative western blot showing the effects of SiO2 on the expression of Bax and Bcl-xL in U937 cells. f Densitometric analyses of five separate experiments suggested that SiO2 induced Bax/Bcl-xL expression in a time-dependent manner. *p < 0.05 vs the Bax/Bcl-xL levels at 0 h. g Representative western blot showing the effects of SiO2 on the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and total caspase-3 in U937 cells. h Densitometric analyses of five separate experiments suggested that SiO2 induced cleaved caspase-3/total caspase-3 expression in a time-dependent manner. *p < 0.05 vs the cleaved caspase-3/total caspase-3 levels at 0 h. i Representative western blot showing the effects of the specific autophagy inhibitor 3-MA on the SiO2-induced expression of Bax and Bcl-xL in U937 cells. j Densitometric analyses of five separate experiments suggested that 3-MA attenuated the SiO2-induced increase in the Bax/Bcl-xL levels. *p < 0.05 vs the control group; # p < 0.05 vs the SiO2 group