Fig. 5

FOXN2 is a direct downstream target for miR-188 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. A The sequences of predicted miR-188-binding sites within the 3ʹ-UTR of FOXN2; the wild-type (WT) or mutant (Mut) binding sites are shown. B, C Relative luciferase activity was analyzed after the reporter plasmids or mock reporter plasmid with miR-188 mimics were co-transfected into LM3 and HLF cells. D WB was performed to detect FOXN2 levels in noncancerous hepatic cells (QSG7701 and HL7702) and HCC cell lines (non-invasive Hep3B and HepG2, low-metastatic Huh7, Bel7402, HLE, HLF, SMMC7721, and metastatic HCC97H and HCC-LM3 cells). E HepG2, Hep3B, HLF, and LM3 cells were transfected with miR-188 mimic/inhibitor or NC mimic/inhibitor for 72 h. qPCR was performed to assess the mRNA level of FOXN2 in. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001