Figure 1

The levels of LA, LIAS and oxidative stress in NL and SSc fibroblasts and plasma. A) Immunostaining of LA in NL and SSc dermal fibroblasts (n = 3 subjects). B) The expression of LIAS in dermal fibroblasts was examined by Western blotting (6 NL and 5 SSc subjects). C) Plasma LIAS levels in healthy subjects or SSc patients. D) LIAS levels in culture media from monocytes isolated from healthy subjects or SSc patients. E) Cellular O₂•⁻ levels were detected by DHE. These representative images were from 5 NL and 5 SSc subjects. F) The effect of DHLA or NAC on peroxynitrite levels was measured (n = 4 subjects, p < 0.05). Results are expressed as mean ± S.E. and p < 0.05 was considered significant.