FIGURE 1.

miR‐34a‐5p is down‐regulated, and SMAD4 is up‐regulated in silica‐treated mice. HE (A) and Masson (B) staining of mouse lung tissues show pathological changes (light micrograph magnifications of 200×). The mice were sacrificed at different time points after silica treatment intratracheally (days 1, 14, 28 and 56). Western blotting (C) and qPCR (D) showing E‐cad, VIM and α‐SMA levels in lung tissues at 56 days. qPCR (E)analysis of miR‐34a‐5p and SMAD4 levels in different groups at 56 days. All the data are expressed as means ± SD, and the experiments were replicated at least 3 independently. *P < .05 versus saline group. Immunofluorescence staining of E‐cad (F) and SMAD4 (G) in lung tissues in different groups at 56 days. Scale bar, 50 µm