(A) Schematic of rheometry analysis of fresh pleural tissues. (B) Rheometry analysis of the storage modulus in control and fibrotic pleura. (C) The loss tangent (viscoelasticity) in control and fibrotic pleura. (D) Stress relaxation curves in pleura samples from control and patient groups. Norm., normalized. (E) Stress was normalized to the initial stress and depicted as τ1/2 (the timescale at which the stress is relaxed to half its original value). (F) Pleural tissues were taken from patients with pleural fibrosis and controls. Shear viscosity was detected and corresponding curves were made. (G) Bar graphs showing relative fold-changes in viscosity with shear rate at 10 (s^–1). (B, C, E, and G) Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical analyses were performed with unpaired Student’s t tests. n = 5, *P < 0.05. (H–M) Mouse pleural fibrosis model was induced by intrapleural injection of bleomycin plus carbon particles. Lentivirus expressing shRNA directed against versican (VCAN) shRNA or scrambled sequence shRNA was administrated by intrapleural injection at a dose of 2 × 10⁶ TU on days 4, 7, and 10. After a lung function test, all mice were euthanized at day 21, and then tissues were taken for analysis. (H) Rheometry analysis of the storage modulus. (I) The loss tangent (viscoelasticity) in mouse pleura. (J) Stress relaxation curves in mouse pleura. (K) Stress was normalized to the initial stress and depicted as τ1/2 (the timescale at which the stress is relaxed to half its original value). (L) Shear viscosity was detected and corresponding curves were made. (M) Bar graphs showing relative fold-changes in viscosity with shear rate at 10 (s^–1). (H, I, K, and M) Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Statistical analyses were performed with 1-way ANOVA. n = 4, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.