LncRNA DANCR is essential for ASP-induced suppression of fibrogenesis. (A-B) qRT-PCR was performed to determine the expression levels of DANCR in RLE-6TN cells (A) and rat lung tissues (B), which are treated with or without ASP, *P<0.05, **P<0.01. (C) DANCR was overexpressed in RLE-6TN cells by infection with DANCR-specific plasmid, ***P<0.001. (D) CCK8 assay revealed that DANCR overexpression attenuated ASP-induced suppression of cell proliferation, *P<0.05. (E) Results of Transwell assay showed that ASP suppressed cell migration of RLE-6TN cells; however, transfection with DANCR reversed this effect, *P<0.05. (F) Immunofluorescence assays showed that upregulation of DANCR levels abrogated the ASP-induced inhibition of collagen-1, E-cadherin, and α-SMA expression. Green fluorescence represents respective proteins (collagen-1, E-cadherin, and α-SMA), and blue fluorescence indicates nuclei stained by DAPI. (G) qPCR analysis was performed to evaluate the upregulation of DANCR levels in rats administered with p-DANCR compared to those in control rats, **P<0.01. (H) H&E and Masson’s staining assays were performed to investigate the effects of DANCR in ASP-induced suppression of pulmonary fibrosis in rat lung tissues; immunohistochemical analysis of collagen-1 protein expression in rat lung tissues overexpressing DANCR.