Fig. 4.

AK4 is a target of miR-199a-3p in esophageal cancer cells. Level of miR-199a-3p (a). AK4 mRNA (b, c) and protein (d) levels in the miR-199a-3p mimic (3PM)-transfected Kyse30 and Kyse150 cells and the miR-199a-3p antagomiR (3PA)-transfected Kyse30-R and Kyse150-R cells versus the negative control (NC) cells, as determined by qRT-PCR or western blot analyses. e Sequences in the UTR region of the AK4 gene targeted by miR-199a-3p, with the hatched section showing the combined area and the diagram of the vector. The relative luciferase activities (fold) of the reporter with the wild-type (WT) AK4-UTR or without the UTR (Vec) were determined in the EC cells transfected with the miR-199a-3p mimic (in Kyse30), antagomiR (in Kyse30-R) or Mock (f–h) sequences. The Renilla luciferase activity of a co-transfected control plasmid was used as a control for the transfection efficiency. The representative results from three independent experiments are shown. *p value < 0.05, **p value < 0.01 by Student’s t-test