Fig. 4

CITED2 and UPF1 are direct targets of miR-1468 in HCC cells. a miR-1468 and its putative binding sequences in the 3’-UTR of CITED2 and UPF1. The mutant binding site was generated in the complementary site for the seed region of miR-1468. b miR-1468 overexpression significantly suppressed, while miR-1468 loss increased the luciferase activity that carried wild-type (wt) but not mutant (mt) 3’-UTR of CITED2 or UPF1. c Hep3B and MHCC-97 L cells that were transfected with precursor miR-1468 and miR-1468 inhibitors (anti-miR-1468), respectively, were subjected to qRT-PCR for CITED2 and UPF1 mRNA expression. d miR-1468 overexpression reduced the expression of CITED2 and UPF1 protein in Hep3B cells and miR-1468 knockdown increased the level of CITED2 and UPF1 protein in MHCC-97 L cells. e, f Immunofluorescence staining of CITED2 and UPF1 after transduction of miR-1468. n.s, no significance, *P < 0.05