Fig. 3.

DANCR served as a ceRNA of miR-214-5p. A The binding site between DANCR and miR-214-5p was predicted by TargetScan. B MiR-214-5p mimics and inhibitor were transfected into VSMCs and HUVECs, and the transfection efficiencies were confirmed by qRT-PCR. C Luciferase reporter assay. D VSMCs and HUVECs were transfected with si-DANCR or si-NC, and miR-214-5p expression was detected by qRT-PCR. E MiR-214-5p expression in blood samples of AS patients was evaluated by qRT-PCR. F VSMCs and HUVECs were subjected to 50 μg/ml ox-LDL for different times. MiR-214-5p expression was evaluated by qRT-PCR. Each experiment was repeated three independent times. *p < 0.05, and **p < 0.01 vs. miR-NC or control group; ^##p < 0.01 vs. inhibitor NC group