Fig. 4

Expression of collagen genes were altered following overexpression and knockdown of miR-320a. Normal human pulmonary fibroblasts were transfected with miR-320a mimics, miR-320a inhibitors, and scramble as control. Transfected cells were fixed, permeabilized, blocked, immunostained, and subjected to immunofluorescence. Nuclei were stained with DAPI (blue channel), and COL1A1 was stained with an anti-COL1A1 antibody (green channel). a Images were acquired by confocal microscopy at an original magnification of × 10. Scale bar, 10 μm. b, c Quantitized immunofluorescence intensity of type I collagen in the miR-320a overexpression group was dramatically decreased compared to the control group, whereas the intensity in the miR-320a downregulation group was significantly increased. Experiments were repeated at least 3 times. Values are means ± SD. *p < 0.05 versus scramble controls. ***p < 0.001 versus scramble controls