Fig. 4. MiRNAs-449 downregulate ACSL4 expression by direct (miRNA-449a/b-5p) and indirect (miRNA-449c-5p) targeting.
A ACSL4 expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR in a discovery cohort of TNBC (n = 33) sample patients and healthy tissue samples (n = 19) (mean ± SD). B Luciferase reporter assay was performed in HEK-293T cell line co-transfected with pEZX-MT06 (3’UTR ACSL4 containing or empty vector) and miRNA-449a, miRNA-449b-5p or miRNA-449c-5p mimics separately (mean ± SD) (n = 4). ACSL4 expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR (mean ± SD) (n = 3) (C) and western blot (D) after miRNAs-449 mimics transfection in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436 cell lines. ACSL4 expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR (mean ± SD) (n = 3) (E) and Western blot (F) after miRNAs-449 mimics transfection separately in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436 cell lines. **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, ****p < 0.0001. C plasmid: Control plasmid.