Fig. 4

Inhibition of miR-9-5p enhances TGF-β1-induced transformation of human dermal fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. a–c qRT-PCR analysis for mRNA expression of α-SMA (a), Col1α1 (b), and FN (c) in HDF transfected with 40-nM miR inhibitor-NC or miR inhibitor-9 and treated with TGF-β1 (5 ng/ml) for the indicated times. d Western blot analysis (left) and quantification (right) of α-SMA and FN levels in HDF transfected with 40-nM miR inhibitor-9 or miR inhibitor-NC (control) and treated with TGF-β1 (5 ng/ml) for the indicated times (a.u., arbitrary units). The bar graphs show values after correction by GAPDH expression and normalized to control conditions. e Western blot analysis (top) and quantification (bottom) of FN levels in HDF transfected with 40-nM miR inhibitor-9 or miR inhibitor-NC (control) and treated with TGF-β1 (5 ng/ml) for the indicated times (a.u., arbitrary units). The bar graph shows values after correction by GAPDH expression and normalized to control conditions. The bar graphs show mean ± SEM of three independent experiments, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 compared to control cells and ^# P < 0.05 and ^## P < 0.01 compared to their corresponding negative control time point