Figure 3. hsa-miR-4443 targeted THBS1 to regulate transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/α-SMA/collagen signaling in human cardiac fibroblast (HCFBs). A, Binding sequences between hsa-miR-4443 and THBS1 3′-UTR transcripts, and dual-luciferase activity assay revealed hsa-miR-4443 targeted THBS1. B, hsa-miR-4443 promoted THBS1 mRNA degradation. C, The expression of THBS1, TGF-β, Smad2/3, and LTBP1 protein was examined in HCFBs. D, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 expression levels were detected. E, α-SMA, collagen I, and collagen III protein expression levels were compared with the control group. All data are reported as means±SD of at least three independent experiments. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, and ***P<0.001 vs control (Student's t-test or one-way ANOVA analysis with two-sided LSD post hoc test). NC: negative control.