Fig. 4

MEG3 attenuates TGF-β1-induced fibrosis by activating autophagy through inhibition of the ERK/p38 pathway in MRC-5 cells. A RT‒qPCR for MEG3 transfection efficiency; B Western blot for ERK and p38 phosphorylated protein expression levels; C EdU for cell proliferation viability (magnification: × 200; scale bars: 100 μm); D Western blot for LC3 and Beclin1 protein level; E Immunofluorescence detection of LC3 and Beclin1 fluorescence intensity (magnification: × 200; scale bars: 10 μm); F–H RT‒qPCR detection of α-SMA, FN, and COL I mRNA expression level; I: Western blot detection of α-SMA, FN, and COL I protein expression level; J Immunofluorescence detection of α-SMA, FN, and COL I fluorescence intensity (magnification: × 200; scale bars: 100 μm). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001; values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 3)