Figure 5.

miR-373-3p targeted TFAP4.

(a): The Starbase database (http://starbase.sysu.edu.cn/) was browsed for the base binding sites between miR-373-3p and the downstream targets of TFAP4; (b–c): The profiles of TFAP4-MUT and TFAP4-WT in Huh7 and HCCLM3 cells were examined by dual luciferase activity assay; (d–e): The precipitation of Ago2 and IgG in Huh7 and HCCLM3 cells was monitored by RIP; (f): Pearson correlation analysis verified the correlation between miR-373-3p and TFAP4 expressions; (g–h): qRT-PCR assessed TFAP4’s expression in HCC and normal para-cancerous tissues as well as the normal human liver cell line L-02 and HCC cell lines; (i): qRT-PCR measured TFAP4 mRNA expression following miR-373-3p transfection in HCC cells. NsP > 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 (vs. the NC or L-02 group). N = 3.