Mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes alleviate radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting the protein kinase B/nuclear factor kappa B pathway

Figure 2 Therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes in radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis rats. A: Schematic diagram of the strategy for radiation induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats; B: Changes of body weight of rats in each group (n = 6); C: Computed tomography images of rat lungs and morphological changes in lung tissue; D: Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson staining of lung tissue among different groups; E: Quantification of fibrosis by Ashcroft score (n = 6); F: Quantification of area percentage of collagen (n = 6); G: Hydroxyproline content in lung tissues (n = 6). ^aP < 0.05 vs control + phosphate buffered saline, ^bP < 0.01 vs control + phosphate buffered saline, ^cP < 0.0001 vs control + phosphate buffered saline, ^dP < 0.0001 vs irradiation + phosphate buffered saline. CON: Control; PBS: Phosphate buffered saline; IR: Irradiation; EXO: Exosomes; HYP: Hydroxyproline.