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Fig. 1 | Particle and Fibre Toxicology

Fig. 1

From: Myofibroblasts and lung fibrosis induced by carbon nanotube exposure

Fig. 1

CNT-induced lung fibrosis. CNTs are respirable fibers with a tendency to deposit, penetrate and accumulate in lung tissues (left box). Exposure to CNTs induces acute phase responses including an inflammatory response, represented by the recruitment of Mac2-positive macrophages, and a fibrotic response, shown by Picro-Sirius Red staining for collagens I and III. Acute phase responses start as early as day 1, reach an apex on day 7, and decline after day 7 to significantly lower levels on day 14 post-exposure. In this scenario, day 7 post-exposure may represent an acute-to-chronic transition of CNT-induced pathology in mouse lungs (middle box). CNT-induced chronic phase responses are characterized by interstitial fibrosis and formation of epithelioid granulomas, shown by Masson’s Trichrome staining for collagen fibers on day 28 post-exposure. CNT-induced lung fibrosis appears to be persistent and irreversible in studies for up to 1 year post-exposure (right box)

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