Journal: Scientific Reports

Article Title: Cold inducible RNA binding protein promotes fibroblast activation and its inhibition represents a potential therapeutic target in pulmonary fibrosis

doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-39649-3

Figure Lengend Snippet: Transcriptomic profiling and cytokine production in CIRBP-stimulated primary mouse lung fibroblasts. ( A ) Volcano plot of differentially expressed genes in fibroblasts treated with rmCIRBP vs. control. ( B ) Heatmap of representative upregulated and downregulated genes (fold change > 2.5). ( C , D ) Quantitative PCR analysis of Acta2 and Fn1 mRNA expression in fibroblasts treated with or without rmCIRBP. TGF-β–stimulated fibroblasts were included as a positive control. ( E , F ) Western blot analysis of α-SMA and fibronectin protein expression in fibroblasts treated with or without rmCIRBP. TGF-β–stimulated fibroblasts were included as a positive control. ( G – L ) ELISA quantification of cytokines in the culture supernatants: TGF-β, PDGF, IFN-γ, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05 using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison test. rmCIRBP recombinant mouse CIRBP.

Article Snippet: After 24 h of treatment, cytokine concentrations in the culture supernatants were quantified using the arigoPLEX® Mouse Proinflammatory Cytokine Multiplex ELISA Kit and the arigoPLEX® Mouse Fibrotic Marker Multiplex ELISA Kit (arigo Biolaboratories Corp., Taiwan) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Techniques: Control, Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Expressing, Positive Control, Western Blot, Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Comparison, Recombinant

Journal: Scientific Reports

Article Title: Cold inducible RNA binding protein promotes fibroblast activation and its inhibition represents a potential therapeutic target in pulmonary fibrosis

doi: 10.1038/s41598-026-39649-3

Figure Lengend Snippet: CIRBP promotes collagen production and proliferation via TLR2/4-dependent IL-6 signaling. ( A ) IL-6 concentrations in the culture supernatants of primary lung fibroblasts treated with rmCIRBP, with or without C23, TLR4-I, or TLR2-I, measured by ELISA. ( B ) Soluble collagen levels in the supernatants following treatment with rmCIRBP ± anti-IL-6 antibody. ( C ) Proliferative activity of fibroblasts assessed by the WST assay after treatment with rmCIRBP and/or anti-IL-6 antibody. ( D ) Soluble collagen production in fibroblasts treated with rmCIRBP and either TLR4-I or TLR2-I. ( E ) Fibroblast proliferation measured using the WST assay following cotreatment with rmCIRBP and TLR4-I or TLR2-I. ( F ) Schematic representation of the proposed mechanism: CIRBP, which is highly expressed in fibrotic lungs, stimulates IL-6 production via TLR2/4, promoting collagen secretion and fibroblast proliferation in an autocrine manner and contributing to the progression of tissue fibrosis. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. *P < 0.05 using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparison test.

Article Snippet: After 24 h of treatment, cytokine concentrations in the culture supernatants were quantified using the arigoPLEX® Mouse Proinflammatory Cytokine Multiplex ELISA Kit and the arigoPLEX® Mouse Fibrotic Marker Multiplex ELISA Kit (arigo Biolaboratories Corp., Taiwan) according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Techniques: Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Activity Assay, WST Assay, Comparison