Figure 3. Global loss of miR-29 is a common phenomenon of Kras^G12D activated murine pancreata and human PDAC tumors with increased collagen deposition.

(a) miR-29 expression levels in LSL-Kras^G12D; Pdx1-Cre (KC), PDAC mouse model. Total RNA was isolated from formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) pancreatic tissue sections of KC or C57BL/6 control mice (n = 3–5 animals/time point) and subjected to miR-29 expression analysis via qPCR. (b) Representative H&E and Sirius Red stained pancreatic sections from C57BL/6 control and KC mice (9 months). Acinar cells (A), Islets of Langerhans (IL), pancreatic ducts (D), and prominent fibrosis (F) are demonstrated in the KC animals. (c) Quantification of collagen in KC animals from 1–9 months of age. ImageJ was used to quantify Sirius Red positive collagen. Data is presented as the mean ± SEM; n = 3–5 animals/time point; (d) miR-29 expression analysis in PDAC patient tumors. Total RNA was isolated from FFPE sections of normal controls (n = 10) (N; solid black) or PDAC patient tumors (n = 15) with 35–80% stroma (T; red, green, or blue), and miR-29 expression was analyzed by qPCR. miR-29 family members are represented by circles (miR-29a), squares (miR-29b), and diamonds (miR-29c). For each group, the mean expression of miR-29 family members is indicated as horizontal lines. p-values determined by t-test, *p < 0.05.