Fig 2: Cell count and classification of immune cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Numbers of WBC, NEU, EOS and LYM in each group. *P<0.05 vs. Con; **P<0.01 vs. Con. CCR7, CC chemokine receptor 7; Con, control group; Over, CCR7 overexpression group; Sh, CCR7 knockdown group; WBC, leukocytes; EOS, eosinophil; NEU, neutrophils; LYM, lymphocytes.

Fig 3: Pathological examination of lung tissues as assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Inflammatory cells were labeled with blue arrows. (A) Con group: Smooth muscle cell proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration. (B) Over group: Increased number of infiltrating inflammatory cells in the airway and lung tissue, and the airway wall was markedly thicker compared with the Con group. (C) Sh group: Bronchiole structure was normal, and a small number of infiltrating inflammatory cell was observed in the lung tissue. Magnification, ×100. CCR7, CC chemokine receptor 7; Con, control group; Over, CC chemokine receptor 7 overexpression group; Sh, CCR7 knockdown group.

Fig 4: Increased expression of OX62 in lung tissue. (A) OX62 expression was assessed using western blot analysis. GAPDH was used as loading control. (B) Densitometric analysis. (C) OX62 expression examined by immunohistochemical analysis in the rat airways. Magnification, ×400. *P<0.05 vs. Con. OX62, α E2 integrin; CCR7, CC chemokine receptor 7; Con, control group; Over, CCR7 overexpression group; Sh, CCR7 knockdown group.

Fig 5: Expression of CCR7 in lung tissue. (A) CCR7 protein expression levels in the three experimental groups were assessed using western blot analysis. GAPDH was used as loading control. (B) Densitometric analysis of the western blot. (C) CCR7 expression examined by immunohistochemical analysis in the airway of rats. Magnification, ×100. **P<0.01 vs. Con. Con, control group; Over, CCR7 overexpression group; Sh, CCR7 knockdown group; CCR7, CC chemokine receptor 7.