Figure 3.

Confirmation of miR-146-5p inhibition and its effect on the protein levels of TRAF6 and NF-κB (p65) as well as TRAF6 mRNA expression. (A) Relative miR-146-5p level; (B) protein level of TRAF6 and NF-κB (p65); protein expression levels of (C) NF-κB (p65) and (D) TRAF6 were expressed as fold changes compared with the control group; and (E) Relative TRAF6 mRNA expression. THP-1 cells, which had been treated with 100 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate for 12 h to differentiate them into macrophages, were transfected with miR-146b-5p inhibitor or its negative control for 24 h, and then treated with 50 µg/ml oxidized low-density lipoprotein for 24 h. RT-qPCR and western blot analysis were then used for miRNA/mRNA and protein detection. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 vs. control. TRAF6, tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6; miR, microRNA; Con, control; NF, nuclear factor; RT-qPCR, reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction.