Fig. 5.

HOXD3 was the target of miR-345-5p. a The binding sites between miR-345-5p and HOXD3 were predicted by Targetscan tool. b, c Dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm the interaction between miR-345-5p and HOXD3. d–e After Huh-7 and HCCLM3 cells were transfected with anti-miR-NC or anti-miR-345-5p, the mRNA and protein levels of HOXD3 were determined by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. f–h After Huh-7 and HCCLM3 cells were exposed to various concentrations of matrine, the mRNA and protein levels of HOXD3 were measured by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. i–k After Huh-7 and HCCLM3 cells were exposed to different treatments (control, Mat, Mat + pcDNA-NC, Mat + pcDNA-circ_0027345, Mat + pcDNA-circ_0027345 + miR-NC and Mat + pcDNA-circ_0027345 + miR-345-5p), the mRNA and protein levels of HOXD3 were measured by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. *P < 0.05