Fig. 8

Detachment and apoptotic resistance of lung fibroblasts occurred independent of SiO2-induced pulmonary inflammation. A Representative western blot results showing the downregulation of NPNT expression in ECM protein samples. B Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the differential expression of NPNT in the acellular ECM. Scale bar = 20 μm. C Protein–protein interaction network of the signaling pathways downstream of NPNT. D Spatial transcriptomics showing the coexpression of Itga8 and Vimentin. E Representative western blot analysis suggesting that CM upregulated NTRK2 expression in MLG cells. F Densitometry analyses of five separate experiments suggested that SiO₂-CM upregulated NTRK2 expression in MLG cells (n = 5); *P < 0.05 and **P < 0.01 compared with ZC3H4 expression at 0 h. G In the 3D migration experiment, the migration of fibroblasts was enhanced after 24 h of culture both in ECM (from NS-treated mice) exposed to SiO₂-CM and in ECM from mice treated with SiO₂ for 56 days. Scale bar = 275 μm. H, I Statistical results of the number of migrating fibroblasts in the 3D migration experiment and the maximum migration distance after 24 h of exposure to SiO₂-CM (n = 5). ***P < 0.05 compared with the control group