Fig. 2. STAT3 was a direct target of miR-29c. (A) The wild and mutant 3′-UTR of STAT3 mRNA with the putative binding sites of miR-29c. (B and C) Dual-Luciferase Reporter assay was performed to explore whether STAT3 was a direct target of miR-29c. Wild-type or mutant-type pGL3-STAT3 luciferase vectors (WT-STAT3 or MUT-STAT3) were constructed and transfected into Huh7 cells together with miR-con or miR-29c mimics (B), anti-miR-con or anti-miR-29c (C). (D) Huh7 cells were transfected with miR-con, miR-29c mimics, anti-miR-con or anti-miR-29c for 48 h, followed by the measurement of STAT3 protein expression. *P < 0.05 vs. corresponding control.