Fig. 4

RNA expression pattern of BARD1 mRNA isoforms in bleomycin induced lung fibrosis. a Exon structures of mRNAs of FL BARD1 and isoforms are aligned. Locations of protein motifs are indicated as in Fig. 2a. Greek names of isoforms are indicated on the left and size in bp on the right. Exons with open reading frames (ORF) are marked as green, non-coding as white, alternative ORFs as yellow. Arrows indicate position of forward (For) and reversed (Rev) primers used for RT-PCR. b RT-PCR on lung tissues from control (Saline) and Bleomycin (Bleo)-treated mice at 15 days after treatment is shown, performed with primers amplifying exon 1 to 11 or the region from exon 1/4 junction (BARD1β-specific) to exon 11 (ex1/4- ex11). Amplicons of BARD1 isoforms are indicated with Greek letters. GAPDH was amplified as RNA quantity and quality control. c Collagen expression was determined by Sircol assay at 15 days after bleomycin treatment. d Quantitative PCR analysis at 15 days after bleomycin assay showed a significant increase of BARD1 expression. e Semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis at 15 days after bleomycin treatment of FL BARD1, BARD1β, BARD1φ, and BARD1ε mRNA expression showed a significant increase of BARD1β expression and a highly significant decrease of BARD1ε. Each bar represents mean + SD (n ≥6 mice in each group); Student’s T-Test *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.005 Bleo- versus saline-treated