Generation of miR-146a-overexpressing TG mice. (A) qRT-PCR analysis of mature miR-146a expression in various tissues from WT and TG mice. The miR-146a expression levels from different tissues were normalized to the snoRNA-135 level. (B) Cell counts of 8 pLNs (2 from the mandible, 4 from the armpit, 2 from the inguina of mice, at age 2–6 weeks [n = 4]). (C) Splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy in TG mice. The photographs show the spleens (left top) and peripheral lymph nodes (left bottom) from representative mice at age 8 weeks. The weights of spleen (middle; n = 7) and peripheral lymph nodes (right; n = 7; from the mandible, the armpit, and the inguina of the mice) were measured. (D) Mixed cellular inflammatory infiltrations (arrowheads) in hematoxylin-eosin–stained sections of the lungs and livers from 8-week-old TG and WT mice (top, low magnification; bottom, high magnification). All data are expressed in terms of mean ± standard deviation values. Comparison of means was performed with an unpaired Student 2-tailed t test (**P < .01).