Apoptosis of transfected cervical cancer cells. HeLa cells were transfected with the miR-181a-5p inhibitor and scramble sequences (inhibitor control), and SiHa cells were transfected with the miR-181a-5p mimic and scramble sequences (mimic control), respectively. (A) The cell apoptosis percentage was detected using a flow cytometer, and apoptotic cells that were annexin V+ and propidium iodide− (PI−) were counted, and the percentage was calculated. (B) Cell apoptosis-related proteins including B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and BCL-2-associated X protein (Bax) were detected using Western blot analysis. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001. Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) was used as a loading control.