Fig. 4: Imiquimod induces emphysema in a TLR7- and MyD88-dependent manner.
From: TLR7 promotes smoke-induced experimental lung damage through the activity of mast cell tryptase
a Wild-type (WT) or TLR7-deficient (Tlr7−/−) or MyD88-deficient (Myd88−/−) BALB/c mice (female, 6–8 weeks old) were administered imiquimod (50 μg in 50 μl sterile saline), intranasally (i.n.) 5 times per week, for 2 weeks. Controls received sterile saline. b Quantification of destructive index (n = 8 mice per group) of saline- or imiquimod-administered WT and Tlr7−/− mice. c Quantification of mean linear intercept (n = 8 mice per group) and representative micrographs (right) of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained lung sections from WT (top panels) and Tlr7−/− (bottom panels) mice administered saline (left panels) or imiquimod (right panels). Scale bars, 200 µm. d Quantification of apoptotic cells (n = 6 mice per group) and representative micrographs (right) of TUNEL-stained lung sections from WT (top panels) and Tlr7−/− (bottom panels) mice administered saline (left panels) or imiquimod (right panels). Arrows indicate TUNEL+ cells. Scale bars, 20 µm. e Transpulmonary resistance of saline- or imiquimod-administered WT and Tlr7−/− mice (n = 8 mice per group). f Quantification of destructive index (n = 6 mice per group) of saline- or imiquimod-administered WT and Myd88−/− mice. g Quantification of mean linear intercept (n = 6 mice per group) and h representative micrographs of H&E-stained lung sections from WT (top panels) and Myd88−/− (bottom panels) mice administered saline (left panels) or imiquimod (right panels). Scale bars, 200 µm. i Quantification of apoptotic cells (n = 6 mice per group) and representative micrographs (right) of TUNEL-stained lung sections from WT (top panels) and Myd88−/− (bottom panels) mice administered saline (left panels) or imiquimod (right panels). Arrows indicate TUNEL+ cells. Scale bars, 20 µm. j Transpulmonary resistance of saline- or imiquimod-administered WT and Myd88−/− mice (n = 6 mice per group). All data are presented as means ± s.e.m. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s multiple comparison test. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.
