Figure 4. MMP16 is the direct target of miR-193a-5p. A, Bioinformatics analysis was performed with starBase, TargetScan, and miRDB to predict the candidate mRNAs, which could be targeted by miR-193a-5p. B, Bioinformatics analysis predicted that the sequence of MMP16 3UTR matched the sequences of miR-193a-5p, and MMP16-WT (wild-type) and MMP16-MUT (mutant) luciferase reporter gene vectors were constructed. C, The miR-193a-5p mimics (or miR control) were co-transfected with MMP16-WT (or MMP16-MUT) into HEK293T cells, and the luciferase activity of the cells in each group was measured. D, Huh-7 and HepG2 cells were transfected with anti-miR-193a-5p and negative control (NC), and the expression level of miR-193a-5p was detected by qRT-PCR. E, qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of MMP16 mRNA in Huh-7 and HepG2 cells after circ_0001806 knockdown. F, qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of MMP16 mRNA in Huh-7 and HepG2 cells transfected with anti-miR-193a-5p. G, Western blot was used to detect the expression of MMP16 protein in Huh-7 and HepG2 cells after circ_0001806 knockdown (G) and in Huh-7 and HepG2 cells transfected with anti-miR-193a-5p (H). Data are reported as means±SD. **P<0.01, ***P<0.001 (t-test).