Impact of CAV1 target site blocker (CAV1 TSB) on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis

To assess whether CAV1 represents the main target associated with miR-199a-5p profibrotic activity, we designed a CAV1 target site blocker (TBS) to specifically disrupt miR-199a-5p interaction with mCAV1 3’UTR. CAV1 TSB (5mg/kg) or control formulated for in vivo delivery (Control TSB) was instilled intratracheally 4 days and 2 days before intratracheal administration of bleomycin (1 unit/kg) or PBS as well as 4 days after bleomycin or PBS treatment. Experiments were performed in a one color design, corresponding to 4 conditions (Control TSB + PBS n = 2, CAV1 TSB + PBS n = 2, Control TSB + bleomycin n = 6, CAV1 TSB + bleomycin n = 6) for a total of 16 samples.