LincIN upregulates HOXB13 expression by suppressing miR-7. (A) Expression of miR-7 in TE-1 cells transfected with miR-7 mimics or miRNAs negative control (NC) detected by RT-qPCR. (B) Luciferase activity in TE-1 cells co-transfected with LincIN overexpression plasmid, miR-7 mimics and luciferase reporter containing HOXB13 3′UTR. Results are shown as the relative ratio of Firefly luciferase activity to Renilla luciferase activity. (C) Luciferase activity in Eca-109 cells co-transfected with LincIN specific shRNAs and luciferase reporter containing HOXB13 3′UTR. Results are shown as the relative ratio of Firefly luciferase activity to Renilla luciferase activity. (D) Expression of HOXB13 mRNA in TE-1 cells co-transfected with LincIN overexpression plasmid and miR-7 mimics detected by RT-qPCR. (E) Expression of HOXB13 mRNA in LincIN stably depleted and control Eca-109 cells detected by RT-qPCR. (F) Expression of HOXB13 protein in TE-1 cells co-transfected with LincIN overexpression plasmid and miR-7 mimics detected by western blot analysis. (G) Expression of HOXB13 protein in LincIN stably depleted and control Eca-109 cells detected by western blot analysis. Results are shown as the means ± SD from 3 separate experiments. **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, vs. control or control-shRNA group; ns, not significant, determined by one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's multiple comparisons test. ESCC, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.