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Fig. 1 | BMC Biology

Fig. 1

From: Systematic characterization of seed overlap microRNA cotargeting associated with lupus pathogenesis

Fig. 1

IMQ-induced SLE mouse model: downregulation of miR-128-3p and miR-148a-3p in splenic pDCs. A Experimental protocol of the IMQ model. B, C Massive ascites (B) and splenomegaly (C) in IMQ-treated mice at 8 weeks. Bar = 0.5 cm. D Immunofluorescence image of a kidney section showing IgG, IgM, and C3 in a 4-week-old control mouse (upper), 4-week-old IMQ mouse (middle), and 8-week-old IMQ mouse (lower). Bar = 100 μm. E Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining of a kidney section of a 4-week-old control mouse (upper), 4-week-old IMQ mouse (middle), and 8-week-old IMQ mouse (lower). Bar = 100 μm. F Electron microscope image of the kidney section of a 4-week-old control mouse (upper), 4-week-old IMQ mouse (middle), and 8-week-old IMQ mouse (lower). Bar = 2.0 μm. G Anti-ds-DNA antibody levels determined by ELISA. Data are means ± SD (N = 7–9, *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001, two-tailed Wilcoxon rank sum test). H Urinary albumin creatine level at 4 and 8 weeks, as determined by ELISA. Data are means ± SD (N = 6–8, *P < 0.05, two-tailed Wilcoxon rank sum test). I Relative expression of IFN-α mRNA in the spleens (left) and splenic pDCs (right) of control and IMQ mice (4 weeks), as determined by qRT-PCR. Data are means ± SD (N = 4–8, *P < 0.05, two-tailed Wilcoxon rank sum test). J miRNA expression profiling of pDCs from 4-week-old control mice and 4-week-old IMQ mice (N = 4 per group, fold change > 1.5). Color scales are normalized along each row. K Validation of downregulated miRNAs by qRT-PCR. Data are means ± SD (N = 8–12, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, two-tailed Wilcoxon rank sum test). L Relative fold changes and mean expression levels of miRNAs in pDCs from 4-week-old control mice and 4-week-old IMQ mice (N = 3 per group), determined by small RNA-seq analysis

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