The regulatory effects of CRNDE and miR-181a-5p on the release of cytokines. (a) The expression of CRNDE was determined after respective transfection of si-CRNDE-1, si-CRNDE-2 and si-CRNDE-3. *: P < 0.05 when compared with NC group. (b) The expression of miR-181a-5p was measured after transfection of miR-181a-5p mimic. *: P < 0.05 when compared with miR-NC group. (c) The mRNA and protein levels of NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 within THP-1 cell line were monitored after treatment of LPS. *: P < 0.05 when compared with NC group. (d) The mRNA and protein levels of NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 within THP-1 cell line were determined among si-NC, si-CRNDE, si-NC + LPS and si-CRNDE + LPS groups. *: P < 0.05 when compared with si-NC group. (e) The mRNA and protein levels of NF-kB, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 within THP-1 cell line were compared among miR-NC, miR-181a-5p mimic, miR-NC + LPS and miR-181a-5p mimic + LPS groups. *: P < 0.05 when compared with miR-NC group. (f) The CRNDE sponged miR-181a-5p in certain sites, and the luciferase activity was compared among psi-Check2-CRNDE-Wt + miR-181a-5p mimic group, psi-Check2-CRNDE-Mut + miR-181a-5p mimic group and psi-Check2-CRNDE-Wt + miR-NC group. *: P < 0.05 when compared with psi-Check2-CRNDE-Wt + miR-NC group. (g) The miR-181a-5p expression was determined after transfection of si-CRNDE-1, and the expression of CRNDE was drawn after treatment of miR-181a-5p. *: P < 0.05 when compared with miR-NC group.