miR-425-5p inhibitor induces HeLa cell apoptosis. (A) Early apoptosis (Q2) and late apoptosis (Q4) was detected by flow cytometry in HeLa cells following transfection with miR-425-5p inhibitor, inhibitor control, miR-425-5p inhibitor + AIFM1-siRNA or miR-425-5p inhibitor + control-siRNA. (B) The effect of miR-425-5p knockdown on HeLa cell apoptosis was examined. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. **P<0.01 vs. control group; ##P<0.01 vs. inhibitor group. siRNA, small interfering RNA; FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate; control, untransfected HeLa cells; inhibitor control, HeLa cells transfected with inhibitor control; inhibitor, HeLa cells transfected with miR-425-5p inhibitor; inhibitor + control-siRNA, HeLa cells co-transfected with miR-425-5p inhibitor and control siRNA; inhibitor + siRNA, HeLa cells co-transfected with miR-425-5p inhibitor and AIFM1-siRNA; PI, propidium iodide.