Figure 6. BIM expression inversely correlates with miR-24-3p expression and BIM is increased in COPD.

(A) Correlation of BIM expression (ΔCt BIM/18S) with miR-24-3p expression (ΔCt miR-24-3p/RNU48) measured by RT-PCR in lung tissue samples from the confirmatory cohort (n = 78). The regression coefficient and P value are adjusted for the effects of age, sex, and smoking. (B) BIM expression (ΔCt BIM/18S) measured by RT-PCR in lung tissue samples from the confirmatory cohort. n = 23 for no COPD, n = 32 for GOLD I & II COPD, and n = 23 for GOLD III & IV COPD. (C) Heatmap of FEV₁ percent predicted (n = 78) and percent radiographic emphysema (n = 68) correlated with BIM expression (ΔCt BIM/18S) measured by RT-PCR in lung tissue samples from the confirmatory cohort. The regression coefficients and P values are adjusted for the effects of age, sex, and smoking status. Yellow denotes increase above the sample median, and purple denotes decrease below the sample median. (D and E) Sample immunoblotting and relative densitometry of BIM/β-actin performed on lung tissue samples from individuals with GOLD I (n = 7/group) or GOLD III & IV COPD (n = 9/group). Error bars represent median ± IQR. *P < 0.05 Kruskal-Wallis (B) or Mann-Whitney (E) correcting for multiple comparisons using the 2-stage linear step-up procedure of Benjamini, Krieger, and Yekutieli. See complete unedited blots in the supplemental material.