Fig. 2

Down regulation of miR-493-5p and higher proportion of Th9 cells in murine asthma models. OVA was used to induce allergic airway inflammation in mice. The mice were euthanasia by dislocation of the cervical spine after the measurement of airway hyperreactivity, and then their lung tissues and BALF were collected (n = 8 for each group). A The IL-9 levels in lung tissue and BALF were measured by ELISA, and IL-9 level in lung tissue and BALF of asthma groups were significantly higher than the control groups. B The miR-493-5p expression in lung tissue and BALF were detected by RT-PCR, and the miR-493-5p expression were both obviously diminished in asthma groups compared with control groups. C MiR-493-5p, FOXO1, IRF4 and IL-9mRNA expression in lung tissues were detected by RT-PCR, and IL-9, FOXO1, IRF4 expression were all significantly upregulated in lung tissues from asthmatic mice. D, E The proportion of CD4⁺T cells secreting IL-9 in PBMCs were analysed by flow cytometry, the results revealed that the higher proportion of CD4⁺T cells secreting IL-9 in the PBMCs of the asthma mice. ^**P < 0.01, compared to control group