Fig. 5.

CircSETD3 inhibits the growth of HCC through thecircSETD3/miR-421/MAPK14 pathway. a and b Both qRT-PCR and IHC showed MAPK14 was significantly downregulated in HCC tissues compared with matched non-tumorous tissues. c and d MAPK14 negatively correlated with miR-421 whereas positively correlated with circSETD3 in HCC tissues. e Schematic of MAPK14 wild-type (WT) and mutant (Mut) luciferase reporter vectors. f The relative luciferase activities were analyzed in 293 T cells co-transfected with miR-421 mimics or miR-mimics-NC and WT or Mut luciferase reporter vectors. g MiR-421 inhibitor up-regulated MAPK14 and down-regulated cyclinD1 and PCNA in Hep3B cells. MiR-421 mimics down-regulated MAPK14 and up-regulated cyclinD1 and PCNA in Huh7 cells. h CircSETD3 letivirus up-regulated MAPK14 and down-regulated cyclinD1 and PCNA in Huh7 cells, this effect could be reversed by co-transfected with miR-421 mimics. i circSETD3 siRNA down-regulated MAPK14 and up-regulated cyclinD1 and PCNA in Hep3B cells, this effect can be reversed by co-transfected with miR-421 inhibitors. HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; qRT-PCR, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; in, inhibitors; mi, mimics; IHC, immunohistochemistry. ***P < 0.001. Error bars indicate SD