Fig. 1.

miR-5100 modulates melanoma cell EMT by targeting SPINK5–STAT3 pathway. A, B Expression of miR-5100 and SPINK5 was measured by RT-qPCR and IHC in melanoma and nevus specimens. C, D The miR-5100 binding site in the 3′-UTR of SPINK5 and matched mutations; miR-5100 modulates SPINK5 expression. Furthermore, a luciferase reporter assay was conducted in 293T cells to verify the interaction between miR-5100 and the SPINK5 binding site. E, F The metastasis inhibition effects of miR-5100 were measured by wound-healing and transwell assays. G miR-5100 modulates melanoma cell EMT process shown by EMT‑related markers determined by western blot analysis. H, I Immunoblotting and IF analysis of STAT3, and phosphorylation of STAT3 in A2058 and G361 cell lines transfected with either a mimic or an inhibitor of miR-5100. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 versus control