Figure 7.

Nanoparticle-delivered miR-21-5p ciRs inhibit tumor growth and enforce tumor suppressor expression in murine LUAD models. (A) A549 cells were injected into the left and right flanks of nude mice. Mice were randomized when reaching tumor volume threshold volume (40–110 mm³). PEI nanoparticles loaded with Ctrl or bulged miR-21-5p ciRs were i.p. injected five times in 43 days and tumor volume was monitored (post-treatment, Ctrl n = 8, bulge n = 13). Statistical significance, indicated by P-values, was determined by the Mann–Whitney test. (B) Representative images of mice treated with Ctrl (left) or bulged miR-21-5p (right) ciRs. Arrows indicate primary tumors. (C) Northern blot analysis of miR-21-5p in xenograft tumors and murine lung tissue. 5S and U6 served as loading controls. (D) The expression of indicated mRNAs in tumors (n = 8, upper panel) and lung tissues (n = 7, bottom panel) derived from mice treated with miR-21-5p or control (Ctrl) ciRs is shown by box plots. RNA levels in miR-21-5p ciR-treated samples were normalized to median mRNA abundance in samples treated with Ctrl ciRs, as depicted by dashed lines. Statistical significance, as indicated by P-values, was determined using Student’s t-test.