*2.5. Paraffin Embedding and Immunocytochemistry of Human Bronchial Cells*

Human bronchial fibroblasts (HBFs) and human bronchial epithelial cells (HBE) were clotted, processed and immunostained. Briefly, 5 × <sup>10</sup><sup>5</sup> cells were centrifuged at 1200 rpm for 5 min and placed on ice immediately after centrifugation. 120 μL of plasma was then added dropwise to the cell pellet, followed by gentle vortexing for 10 s. 80 μL of thrombin (Sigma-Aldrich, Burlington, MA, USA, Cat. No. T4393) was then added and mixed so as to clot the cells together. The clotted cells were then transferred to a sheet of Speci-wrap paper, which was folded and secured inside a formalin cassette. The clotted cells were then processed using Excelsior AS Tissue Processor (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA) to generate FFPE blocks of the clotted cells, which were then immunostained as described above.
