Fig. 1

Decreased miR-29a-3p expression and increased Robo1 expression in liver tissues of patients with schistosomiasis. A Paraffin-embedded sections of liver tissues from patients were stained with H&E, Masson's trichrome, and Sirius Red. Scale bar, 200 μm. B, C Total RNA was extracted for qPCR analysis of miR-29a-3p and Robo1 expression levels. Control (n = 7), fibrosis (n = 9). D, E The expression of Robo1 was determined by western blotting. Image density was quantified using ImageJ and normalized to GAPDH. F Representative immunohistochemical staining of Robo1 and immunofluorescence staining of Robo1 (green) colocalization with α-SMA (red) in liver sections was detected. Yellow arrows denote positive cells. Scale bar, 50 μm. G–J Correlations between the mRNA levels of miR-29a-3p and Robo1 and portal vein diameter and spleen thickness in patients with schistosomiasis (n = 9). I The larger dot shows data from two patients. Data are presented as the median and interquartile range (B, C and E). All data are representative of at least two independent experiments. Significance was calculated using the Mann-Whitney U test (B, C and E) or Spearman’s rank test (G–J). *P < 0.05, ***P < 0.001. miR-29a-3p: microRNA-29a-3p; Robo1: Roundabout homolog 1