Fig. 8. Downregulation of miR-221 and miR-222 decreases cell proliferation and neointima formation in rat carotid artery after angioplasty.
(A) Representative immunofluorescence of PCNA in rat carotid arteries at 14 days after balloon-injury. Note: Green color was the immunofluorescence of PCNA that represented proliferating cells. Blue was cell nuclear staining by DAPI that reflects total cells. Red color was the autofluorescence in elastic laminae. (B) Quantification of the proliferative cells showed that, compared with vehicle-treated and control oligo-treated vessels, fewer cells were proliferating in the injured vascular walls treated with 2'OMe-miR-222. (C) Downregulation of the miR-221 and miR-222 by 2'OMe-miR-222 decreased neintimal formation. (D) Representative Masson's trichrome stained photomicrographs of rat carotid arteries from different groups. Note; N=8; *P<0.05 compared with vehicle control.