Fig. 3

Gain- of function ZNF416 facilitates fibroblast differentiation, proliferation and contraction. A qRT-PCR analysis of relative expression of ZNF416 in MRC-5 cells treated with ZNF416 plasmid, with ^**p < 0.01 vs. control group. B Western blots demonstrated a dramatically increased synthesis of fibrosis-related proteins after being treated with the ZNF416 plasmid in MRC-5 cells. C qRT-PCR demonstrated a dramatically increased expression of fibrosis-related genes after treatment of ZNF416 plasmid in MRC-5 cells. D Immunofluorescence analysis of Collagen I after treatment of ZNF416 plasmid in MRC-5 cells, Collagen stained green, Nuclei were stained by DAPI, scale bar = 50 μm. E EdU assays indicated that ZNF416 overexpression promotes the proliferation of MRC-5 cells, scale bar = 50 μm. F Effect of ZNF416 plasmid on the contractility of fibroblast. G CCK8 assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferative ability in MRC-5 cells after ZNF416 overexpression, with ^**p < 0.01 vs. control group and ^#p < 0.05 vs. ZNF416 plasmid group