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 8. Upregulated MITF 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) MVD and MMVD of cardiac tissues; (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; MITF, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor; MVD, microvascular density; MMVD, mean microvessels diameter; RT-qPCR, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.