Figure 6. Transfection of miR-30a mimics increased miR-30a levels, reduced AMPKα2 expression, suppressed AMPKα (Thr¹⁷²) phosphorylation and inhibited autophagy in neuron-like cells induced by microwaves.

(A) The expression of miR-30a in PC12 cell-derived neuron-like cells measured by RT-PCR. (B–F) Representative protein bands of AMPKα2, p-AMPKα (Thr¹⁷²), AMPKα, Beclin1, LC3-I, LC3-II and corresponding GAPDHs, and related statistical analysis results. The cells were transfected with miR-30a mimics or related negative control miRNAs 24 h before 30 mW/cm² microwave radiation, and harvested 6 h after exposure. CQ+ indicated that the neuron-like cells were pretreated with CQ 1 h before microwave exposure, while CQ− indicated that equal amount of water was added. The data are presented as mean ± SEM. Two-way ANOVA was performed to analyze the data of two-factor factorial design (A–F). *, P<0.05; **, P<0.01; ***, P<0.001 vs the control. The data in panels (D,E) are from the same sample, so they share the same GAPDH.