Fig. 5.

Circ_0000396 can directly regulate miR-203 targeted gene HBP1 in RASFs. a The putative binding sits between HBP1 3΄UTR and miR-203 were listed. b, c The interaction between circ_0000396 and miR-203 was confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter assay in RASFs (Mann–Whitney U-test). d, e The protein expression of HBP1 in RA synovial tissues and healthy control tissues, as well as in RASFs and NSFs was detected by western blot (Student’s t test). f, g qRT-PCR or western blot analysis of HBP1 expression in RASFs transfected with miR-NC, or miR-203 was conducted (Student’s t test). h, i Levels of HBP1 in RASFs transfected pcDNA, circ_0000396, circ_0000396 + miR-NC, circ_0000396 + miR-203 were detected by qRT-PCR or western blot (ANOVA). ^*p < 0.05, ^**p < 0.01, ^***p < 0.001, ^****p < 0.0001