Immunofluorescent (Alexa Fluor) detection of phosphorylated ERK1/2 shown on the upper panels are overlaid with DAPI stain on the lower panel to show lung tissue architecture.

Abstract

Lung sections were taken from different treatment groups and immunostained for ERK1/2 (Fig (1b–1f)). Negative control (a); PBS/Veh (b); OVA/Veh (c); OVA/Ang-(1–7) (d); OVA/Ang-(1–7) + A779 (e) and OVA/Dex (f) (x 20 magnification). PBS treated mice showed minimal pERK1. OVA challenge resulted in a significant increase in ERK1/2 and this was inhibited following treatment with Ang-(1–7) (0.3 mg/kg) (c, d and g) and was comparable to the dexamethasone treated animals (f and g). Treatment with A779 inhibited the Ang-(1–7) (0.3 mg/kg)–induced decrease in ERK1/2 (e and g). Quantitative assessment of fluorescence intensity of ERK1/2 (Fig 1(g)) (arbitrary units). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM (n = 5–11). *P #P ¥ P < 0.05 versus time-matched OVA/Ang-(1–7) treated animals. Panel (h) is a higher magnification (x40) of the OVA challenged group to better show the localization of the stain.</p