Figure 2.

LEF1 was a direct target of miR-34a-5p in ESCC cells. (a) miR-34a, miR-302b, miR-34c-5p showed the most likely binding with the 3'-UTR of LEF1 as predicted by mirwalk database. (b, c) qRT-PCR and western blot showed LEF1 expression levels in the Eca109 cells transfected with the top three miRNAs mimics (miR-34a-5p, miR-302b-3p, miR-34c-5p) and negative control (NC), indicating miR-34a-5p induced the greatest decline of LEF1 expression. (d) Sequences of LEF1 3'-UTR and miR-34a-5p according to the prediction of TargetScan. Wild-type and mutated-type binding sequences of LEF1 3 ׳UTR were shown. (e) Luciferase assay on ESCC cells showed that miR-34a-5p markedly suppressed luciferase activity of wild-type reporter constructs. *P<0.05, **P<0.01