PTEN was targeted by miR-17-5p and overturned the effects of miR-17-5p mimic on the expression of PTEN and the viability of ECPs. (a) The binding sites between PTEN and miR-17-5p were predicted by Targetscan7.2. (b) The targeted relationship between PTEN and miR-17-5p was verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. (c-d) The expression of PTEN in EPCs after overexpressing miR-17-5p and PTEN was detected by Western blot. β-actin was used as an internal control. (e) The expression of PTEN in EPCs after overexpressing miR-17-5p and PTEN was detected by qPCR. β-actin was used as an internal control. (f) The viability of EPCs after overexpressing miR-17-5p and PTEN was detected by MTT assay. (+++P < 0.001, vs. MC; ***P < 0.001, vs. NC; ^^^P < 0.001, vs. Control; ###P < 0.001, vs. PTEN; &&&P < 0.001, vs. M+ NC) (EPCs: endothelial progenitor cells, M: miR-17-5p mimic, MC: mimic control, NC; negative control)