Fig. 1

DZ2002 attenuated skin fibrosis and TGF-β signaling activation in a BLM-induced SSc mice model. a Experimental design of BLM-induced SSc mice model and drug treatment. b Total skin thickness of the back of each group of mice (n = 10 per group). c Representative skin sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain (top, original magnification, × 100), Masson’s trichrome stain (middle, original magnification, × 100), and α-SMA immunohistochemical staining (bottom, arrows represent α-SMA, original magnification, × 100) (scale bar = 100 μm). d Dermis thickness and subcutaneous fat layer thickness were measured on H&E stained images (n = 10 per group). e mRNA levels of molecules related to extracellular matrix metabolism, such as TGF-β, Col1a1, Col1a2, CTGF, VEGF, and MMP-13, in the lesional skin were assessed by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR. f TGF-β, Smad3, p-Smad3, Smad4, Smad7, STAT1, and p-STAT1 proteins in the skin of C57BL/6 mice from the normal group, vehicle-treated group, and DZ2002-treated group (DZ2002: 50 mg/kg, 8 mice skin tissue mixed proteins). Mean ± SEM. HPF, high-power field, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, ****P < 0.0001. PNS, prednisolone; d, day; ns, no significance