SPRY4-IT1 sponges miR-101 to regulate the expression of ZEB1 and ZEB2. (A) Predicted binding site between SPRY4-IT1 and miR-101. (B) miR-101 mimics reduced, whereas miR-101 inhibitor increased, luciferase activity in the SPRY4-IT1-WT group. Luciferase activity was not altered by miR-101 mimics or inhibitors in the SPRY4-IT1-MUT group. (C) Predicted binding site between miR-101 and ZEB1. (D) miR-101 mimics reduced, whereas miR-101 inhibitor increased, luciferase activity in the ZEB1-WT group. Luciferase activity was not altered by miR-101 mimics or inhibitors in the ZEB1-MUT group. (E) Predicted binding site between miR-101 and ZEB2. (F) miR-101 mimics reduced, whereas miR-101 inhibitor increased, luciferase activity in the ZEB2-WT group. Luciferase activity was not altered by miR-101 mimics or inhibitors in the ZEB2-MUT group. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation of three independent experiments. *P<0.05, **P<0.01. SPRY4-IT1, sprouty receptor tyrosine kinase signalling antagonist 4-intronic transcript 1; miR, microRNA; ZEB, zinc finger E-box-binding homeoboxes.