Research Paper Volume 11, Issue 15 pp 5368—5388
Downregulation of microRNA-218 is cardioprotective against cardiac fibrosis and cardiac function impairment in myocardial infarction by binding to MITF
Figure 3. Downregulated miR-218 expression reduces cardiac fibrosis and promotes angiogenesis in MI rats. (A) Masson staining showing the cardiac fibrosis of rats (× 200); (B) immunohistochemical staining showing the expression of type I collagen and type III collagen (× 200); (C) CD34 immunohistochemistry showing MVD and MMVD of cardiac tissues (× 200); (D) the mRNA expression of angiogenesis-related factor VEGF detected by RT-qPCR; (E) the protein expression of angiogenesis-related factor VEGF detected by western blot assay. *versus the sham group, P < 0.05; #versus the MI group, P < 0.05; n = 3. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Pairwise comparison after ANOVA was performed by Fisher’s least significant difference. MI, myocardial infarction; miR-218, microRNA-218; MVD, microvascular density; MMVD, mean microvessels diameter; RT-qPCR, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.