Integrated miRNA-mRNA analysis.

The top 200 most negatively correlated putative miRNA-mRNA pairs (P < 0.05). Light blue circle indicates up-regulated miRNAs and red circle indicates down-regulated mRNAs. Light blue square indicates down-regulated miRNAs and red square indicates up-regulated mRNAs.</p

Putative negative miRNA-mRNA pairs validated by RT-qPCR (<i>P</i> < 0.05).

Putative negative miRNA-mRNA pairs validated by RT-qPCR (P < 0.05).</p

Histopathological assessment of the kidneys of the control rats and CI-AKI rats by H&E staining.

(A) CM treatment induces representative histopathological changes in the outer medulla of H&E-stained kidney sections. (B) Tubular injury is graded by the Paller score, a semi-quantitative evaluation. For each kidney section, 100 tubules from 10 highmagnification (×200) fields of the inner and outer medulla are scored. The average Paller score is much higher in CI-AKI rats than controls ((8.2 ± 0.9) vs. (3.6 ± 1.2), P < 0.05).</p

RT-qPCR validation.

(A) RT-qPCR validation of six miRNAs selected from the miRNA sequencing data. N = 6 per group, *P P < 0.05 vs. control group.</p

Hierarchical clustering analysis of the 453 DE mRNAs in the CI-AKI and control group (<i>P</i> < 0.05).

Each group includes 3 duplicates. Colors from green to red represent the gene expression abundance from poor to rich.</p

Baseline characteristics of experimental groups and the effects of contrast medium on changes in SCr elevation.

Baseline characteristics of experimental groups and the effects of contrast medium on changes in SCr elevation.</p

List of DE mature miRNAs in kidneys of CI-AKI rats.

List of DE mature miRNAs in kidneys of CI-AKI rats.</p

Functional enrichment analysis of the mature DE miRNAs and their putative targets.

(A) The enriched top 30 GO terms (P P < 0.05).</p

Hierarchical clustering analysis of the 72 DE miRNAs in the CI-AKI and control group.

Each group includes 3 duplicates. The DE miRNAs includes 36 mature and 36 novel ones (P < 0.05). Colors from green to red represent the miRNA expression abundance from poor to rich.</p