Figure 5. Gene transfer of miR-706 prevents CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis in mice.

(A) Administration of miR-706 agomir enhanced miR-706 levels in livers analyzed by RT-PCR after 1 week of the second injection of miR-706 agomir, *P < 0.05. (B) Quantification of hepatic hydroxyproline content; the data are expressed as hydroxyproline (μg)/liver wet weight (mg). *P < 0.05. (C) Decreased α-SMA, Col1a1 expression, and Sirius Red staining were detected by immunohistochemistry staining in 6-week CCl₄-treated livers injected with miR-706 agomir. (D) Quantification of the Sirius red-positive area. *P < 0.05. (E) mRNA expression of α-SMA, col1a1, prkca and Taok1 were detected by real-time PCR. GAPDH was used as an internal control. *P < 0.05. (F) Decreased α-SMA and Col1 expression and inhibited PKCα and TAOK1 were detected by Western blot in 6-week CCl₄-treated livers injected with miR-706 agomir. The levels of target genes in each sample were normalized to that of GAPDH (internal control). *P < 0.05.