Figure 8.

MiRNA-182-5p inhibits inflammation in asthma models. (A) Real-time PCR analyzed miRNA-182-5p level in lung tissues after injection of miRNA-182-5p agomir; (B) The expression of Th2-type cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in BALF was determined by ELISA; (C) The percentage of eosinophils in BALF of different groups was measured by flow cytometry. All data were shown as mean ± SD (n = 8). (D) Real-time PCR was used to determine NOX4 mRNA expression in different group; (E) Western blot was used to determine NOX4 protein expression in different group; (F) The expression of NOX4 and ROS in lung tissue was observed by immunofluorescence and DHE. Scale bar: 200 µm; (G) Western blot was used to measure NLRP3 inflammasome-associated proteins NLRP3, ASC, Cleaved-caspase-1 and IL-1β and apoptosis-associated proteins Bcl-2, BAX, Cleaved-caspase-9, and Cleaved-caspase-3 protein expression in lung tissues. (H) Lung tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) to observe inflammatory cell infiltration. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) was used to assess goblet cell hyperplasia. Sub-epithelial collagen deposition and fibrosis were assessed by Masson staining. Scale bar: 50 µm. All data were shown as mean ± SD (n = 3). #p < 0.05 versus control, *p < 0.05 versus OVA group as determined by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Dunnett’s post hoc test.