Figure 2
From: MicroRNA miR-509 Regulates ERK1/2, the Vimentin Network, and Focal Adhesions by Targeting Plk1
Asthmatic human airway smooth muscle cells display reduced miR-509 expression, increased Plk1 expression, and enhanced proliferation and migration. (A) miR-509 expression in control and asthmatic HASM cells were determined using the experimental procedure described in Materials and Methods. miR-509 expression is reduced in asthmatic smooth muscle cells (Control cells from 5 donors, asthmatic cells from 4 donors, *p < 0.05). However, expression of Plk1 at mRNA (B) and protein (C) levels is higher in asthmatic HASM cells (Control cells from 5 donors, asthmatic cells from 4 donors, *p < 0.05). (D) Control and asthmatic HASM cells were treated with 10 ng/ml PDGF for 3 days followed by cell counting. The proliferation of asthmatic HASM cells is increased as compared to control cells (Control cells from 5 donors, asthmatic cells from 4 donors, *p < 0.05). (E–H). Control and asthmatic HASM cells were replated in 6-well dishes for 5 hours, and migration of these cells was then evaluated by time-lapse microscopy for additional 16 h. NIH ImageJ software was used to analyze cell migration speed, directionality, accumulated distance, and Euclidean distance (*p < 0.05; ***p < 0.01; control cells, n = 58 from 5 donors; asthmatic cells, n = 72 from 4 donors). Student’s t-test was used for statistical analysis.
