Fig. 6
HMGB3 protein expression is increased in SiO2-Exo and SiO2-exposed macrophages. (A-B). Western blot analysis of the expression of HMGB3, HSP70, TSG101 and β-actin in exosomes derived from RAW264.7 macrophages or THP-1 macrophages with or without SiO2 exposure. (C-F). Western blot analysis of HMGB3 expression in RAW264.7 macrophages or THP-1 macrophages exposed to SiO2 for different times. (G-H). Western blot analysis of HMGB3 protein expression in the cytoplasm and nucleus of RAW264.7 macrophages or THP-1 macrophages exposed to SiO2. (I). Western blot analysis of the expression of collagen type I and HMGB3 in the lung tissue of normal mice and mice with silicosis. n = 3 mice in the normal group (saline) and n = 5 mice in the silicosis group (SiO2). (J). Representative image showing immunohistochemical staining of HMGB3 (red arrowheads) in the lung tissue of normal mice and mice with silicosis. The scale bar represents 20 μm. (K). Representative image showing immunohistochemical staining of CD68 (a macrophage-related marker, yellow arrowheads) and HMGB3 (red arrowheads) in the lung tissue of mice with silicosis. The scale bar represents 20 μm. (L). Representative image showing immunohistochemical staining of α-SMA (a myofibroblast-related marker, green arrowheads) and HMGB3 (red arrowheads) in the lung tissue of mice with silicosis. The scale bar represents 20 μm. (M). Representative western blot showing HMGB3 expression in the alveolar macrophages (AMs) of normal mice and mice with silicosis. n = 15 mice per group. The data are representative of three individual experiments and expressed as the mean ± SEM. The data were analysed by Student’s t test. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001, ns = not significant. Abbreviations SiO2 = silica dust; AMs = alveolar macrophages; NC-Exo = exosomes derived from cells without SiO2 exposure; SiO2-Exo = exosomes derived from SiO2-exposed macrophages