SIRT1 is a direct target of miR-34a. (A) mRNA expression levels of SIRT1 in (A) paired HCC and adjacent normal tissues, as well as in (B) THLE-3, HepG2 and SK-Hep-1 cells were determined by RT-qPCR. (C) The potential binding sites between miR-34a and the 3′UTR of SIRT1. A mutation was generated in the miR-34a binding site of the 3′UTR sequence of SIRT1. The mutations were indicated in red. (D) Luciferase activities were determined by a dual-luciferase reporter assay. (E) miR-34a expression levels following miR-34a overexpression or knockdown were determined by RT-qPCR. (F) Protein expression levels of SIRT1, NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β following miR-34a overexpression or knockdown were determined by western blotting. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 vs. the corresponding control. SIRT1, sirtuin 1; miR, microRNA; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; RT-qPCR, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR; 3′UTR, 3′-untranslated region; NLRP3, NLR pyrin domain containing 3; IL-1β, interleukin-1β; WT, wild-type; MUT, mutant; NC, negative control.