Fig 3.

miR-1226-3p downregulated DUSP4 expression. (A) The binding sites for miR-1226-3p in the 3'-UTRs of DUSP4 was determined. (B) HepG2 cells were co-transfected miR-1226-3p with pGL3-3'UTR DUSP4 (wild type or mutated) or pGL3-promoter vector (control), and the luciferase reporter assays were conducted to confirm the relationships between miR-1226-3p and DUSP4. (C, D) Relative expression of DUSP4 was measured respectively by qRT-PCR after HepG2 cells transfected with miRNA-1226-3p inhibitor/negative control and SK-HEP-1 cells transfected with miRNA-1226-3p mimic/negative control. (E) Western blot analysis of DUSP4 and β-tubulin were performed. (NC: negative control. IH: miRNA-1226-3p inhibitor. MIC: miRNA-1226-3p mimic) (*p < 0.05)