miR-501-3p stabilizes the β-catenin protein in colorectal cancer cells. (A) Downregulation of miR-501-3p decreased the β-catenin total protein expression levels and increased the p-β-catenin protein expression levels in HCT116 and Caco2 cells. (B) Quantification of β-catenin and p-β-catenin protein expression levels in A. (C) The CHX chase assay suggested that downregulation of miR-501-3p led to an increase of β-catenin degradation in HCT116 cells. (D) Analysis of β-catenin protein degradation in HCT116 cells transfected with miR-NC inhibitor or miR-501-3p inhibitor. (E) Reverse transcription-quantitative qPCR analysis revealed that miR-501-3p downregulation had no effect on β-catenin mRNA expression levels in HCT116 and Caco2 cells. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001, with comparisons indicated by lines. miR, microRNA; p-, phosphorylated; CHX, cycloheximide; NC, negative control; n.s., not significant.