Fig. 2. miR-27a directly targets TGF-βRI and represses the TGF-β signaling.

a qRT-PCR analysis of TGF-βRI and TGF-βRII expression in cervical cancer cell lines versus normal cervical epithelia. b qRT-PCR. TGF-βRI expression was downregulated by miR-27a agomir in HeLa, but not in SiHa. c qRT-PCR. TGF-βRII levels in three cervical cancer cell lines were not affected by agomir transfection. d Results of double-luciferase reporter assays show the luciferase activity of the wild type TGF-βRI 3′-UTR (TGF-βRI-WT) and the mutant one (TGF-βRI-Mut) in the absence or presence of hsp-miR-27a-3p mimics. e–h qRT-PCR. Expression levels of TGF-βRI, SMAD2, SMAD3, and SMAD4 in cervical cancer cells that were transfected with agomir NC or miR-27a agomir. i Western blot. TGF-βRI, SMAD3, and p-SMAD3 were downregulated by miR-27a agomir transfection. **P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001