Figure 2

In vitro effect of miR-708-3p in IPF. A549 and MRC-5 cells were first transfected with miR-708-3p mimic or inhibitor for 6 h and then co-treated with TGF-β1 for 72 h. (a, b) Immunofluorescence analysis showed that the miR-708-3p mimic improved A549 cell shape and reduced α-SMA expression, but the miR-708-3p inhibitor induced the opposite results. (c) The miR-708-3p mimic improved the A549 ultrastructural changes, as observed by TEM. (d) The miR-708-3p mimic markedly promoted E-cadherin expression and diminished α-SMA, vimentin and Snail in A549 cells. (e) The miR-708-3p inhibitor markedly reduced E-cadherin and promoted α-SMA, vimentin and Snail expression in A549 cells. (f) The miR-708-3p mimic markedly decreased vimentin, α-SMA and collagen I and III expression in MRC-5 cells. (g) The miR-708-3p inhibitor markedly promoted vimentin, α-SMA and collagen I and III expression in MRC-5 cells. Each bar represents the mean±s.d.; n=6, *P<0.05, **P<0.01. TEM, transmission electron microscopy.