Fig. 4

Airn exerts its anti-fibrotic effects by directly binding to insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IMP2). A IMP2 was pulled down by biotin-labeled sense Airn but not Airn anti-sense RNA in CFs. B RIP-qPCR showed the binding between Airn and IMP2 using anti-IMP2 antibody compared with the IgG antibody. C RNA FISH and immunofluorescence co-staining was employed to detect the colocalization of IMP2 protein (green), Airn (red) and DAPI (blue); upper scale bar = 20 μm, lower scale bar = 5 μm. D Representative blot images and quantitative analysis of collagen I and α-SMA expression in CFs. E Representative images of immunofluorescence staining for EdU (green) and DAPI (bule) and quantification of the proliferative cells; Scale bar = 50 μm. F Representative images of immunofluorescence staining for α-SMA (green) and DAPI (blue) and quantification of the relative cell area of CFs; Scale bar = 50 μm. Data are presented as means ± SEM. *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01. n = 3 wells