Figure 5.

The effect of miR-221 and miR-222 on HUVEC cells proliferation. (a,b) Overexpression of miR-221 or miR-222 has negative effect on endothelial cells proliferation. Representative bar graphs showing the effect of these two miRNAs on human umbilical vein endothelial cells proliferation. Cells transfected with either of miR-221 or miR-222 showed significantly reduced cellular proliferation compared to the control cells. This effect was partially restored by cotransfection of the miRNA and its inhibitor. (c) Sunitinib treatment resulted in further reduction of cell proliferation in miR-222-transfected endothelial cells. Cells were treated with sunitinib at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 µmol/l. Sunitinib resulted in reduced cellular proliferation at both concentrations. Data are the means ± SEM of three independent experiments (*P < 0.05 and ***P < 0.001). DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide.