(A) miR-149* suppressed STAT3-meidated target genes induced by LPS. HepG2 cells were transfected with miR-149* mimics or control mimics (Scr-miR). After 24 hours, cells were treated with LPS (40 μg/mL) for 6 hours and then collected for qRT-PCR analysis. *P < 0.05. (n = 3). (B) Immunoblot analysis for phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) and total STAT3 (T-STAT3) in total protein pools from WT and miR-149*−/− mouse (KO) livers after LPS (10 mg/Kg body weight) treatment for 16 hours (n = 5–6). (C) The data of relative protein levels in (B) are expressed as fold change over the ratio of p-STAT3 to T-STAT3 in the control group (lane 1). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.005. (D) miR-149* mimics suppressed IL-6-induced p-STAT3 in HepG2 cells. Cells were transfected with miR-149* mimics or control mimics (Scr-miR). Then cells were treated with IL-6 (20 ng/mL) for 6 hours (n = 3). (E) The data of relative protein levels in (D) are expressed as fold change over the ratio of p-STAT3 to T-STAT3 in the control group (lane 1). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.005. (F) miR-149* suppressed STAT3 transactivity induced by LPS. HepG2 cells were cotransfected with miR-149* mimic or control mimic (Scr-miR), the STAT3 reporter plasmid and phRL-TK. After transfection, cells were treated with LPS (40 μg/mL) for 6 hours. *P < 0.05. RLU, relative luciferase units. (G) miR-149* suppressed STAT3 transactivity induced by IL-6. HepG2 cells were cotransfected with miR-149* mimic or control mimic (Scr-miR), the STAT3 reporter plasmid and phRL-TK. After transfection, cells were treated with IL-6 (10 ng/mL) for 6 hours. *P < 0.05 (n = 3).