microRNA-378a (miR-378a) inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis of human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) by modulating SOD1. (A) Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis shows the mRNA level of SOD1 in human lens epithelial cells (HLECs) transfected with NC, miR-378a mimic, miR-378a inhibitor, miR-378a mimic plus SOD1. All data are presented as the mean ±SD. Comparison of the two groups was performed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). (** P<0.01; *** P<0.001). (B) MTT assay shows cell viability of HLEC cells transfected with NC, miR-378a mimic, miR-378a inhibitor, miR-378a mimic, and SOD1 at different time points of 0, 24, 48, 72 h. (C) TUNEL assay shows cell apoptosis of HLEC cells transfected with NC, miR-378a mimic, miR-378a inhibitor, miR-378a mimic and SOD1. (D) Statistics of cell apoptosis rate of HLEC cells transfected with NC, miR-378a mimic, miR-378a inhibitor, miR-378a mimic plus SOD1. All data are presented as the mean ±SD. Comparison of the two groups were performed by ANOVA. (* P<0.05; *** P<0.001).