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Figure 3 | Arthritis Research & Therapy

Figure 3

From: Estradiol promotes the development of a fibrotic phenotype and is increased in the serum of patients with systemic sclerosis

Figure 3

Estradiol promotes the development of fibrosis ex vivo in human skin. (A) Estrogen and estrogen receptor (ERα) agonist induce skin thickening ex vivo. Human skin samples were plated on six-well plates and treated with ethanol (EtOH), 17β-estradiol (E2), estradiol with ICI 182,780 (E2+ICI), propyl-pyrazole-triol (PPT), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), and genistein for 7 days. (A) Images of H & E-stained sections taken at 40× magnification. Skin thickness was measured and the ratio of the thickness compared with vehicle control (EtOH or DMSO) was calculated as an arbitrary unit. Data shown are from three independent experiments. *P >0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test. (B) Estrogen and ERα agonist also induce collagen bundle thickening in ex vivo. Human skin samples were treated with EtOH, E2, E2+ICI, PPT, DMSO, or genistein for 7 days. Images of H & E-stained sections are shown. Images taken at 800× magnification. Thickness of collagen bundles was measured and the ratio compared with vehicle control (EtOH or DMSO) was calculated as an arbitrary unit. Data shown are from three independent experiments. *P >0.05 by Mann-Whitney U test.

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