Fig. 7

Administration of ZNF416 siRNA-loaded liposomes attenuates silica-induced mouse fibrosis. A Experimental design. 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice were injected intratracheally with silica (50 mg/kg) or saline. ZNF416 siRNA-loaded or scrambled liposomes (1 mg/kg) were injected into the anesthetized animals by tail vein on days 7, 14 and 21 following silica administration. B qRT-PCR analysis of relative expression of ZNF416, α-SMA and Collagen I in the indicated groups, with ^**p < 0.01 vs. control group and and ^#p < 0.05 vs. the scramble liposomes group. C Protein levels of fibrotic markers, ZNF416, Smad2/3 and p-Smad2/3 in the different groups. D Hydroxyproline levels in lungs of C57/BL6 mice from the different groups, with ^**p < 0.01 vs. control group and ^#p < 0.05 vs. the scramble liposomes group. E Representative hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson’s trichrome staining and Sirius red of lung sections from the indicated groups. scale bar = 100 μm. F Immunofluorescence staining with Collagen I and α-SMA in mouse lung slices from the different groups. scale bar = 100 μm. G, H Mean fluorescence intensity of Collagen I and α-SMA in lung slices from the different groups, with ^**p < 0.01 vs. control group and ^#p < 0.05 vs. the scramble liposomes group