Fig 2. Let-7c inhibits HCC cell proliferation, induces cell apoptosis and induces G1 cell cycle arrest in vitro.

(A) HepG2 and SMMC-7721 HCC cells were transfected with the let-7c agomir at a final concentration of 30 or 50 nM. Expression of let-7c was determined using quantitative real-time PCR 48 h post-transfection. (B-D) HepG2 and SMMC-7721 HCC cells were transfected as in (A). At the indicated time points post transfection, the cell growth rate was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay (B). Cells were stained using propidium iodide (PI) and Annexin V 72 h post transfection and analyzed by FACS. Annexin V-positive cells were regarded as apoptotic cells (D) and the cell cycle distribution was calculated (C).