Fig. 7

PLAGL2 is the direct functional target of miR-154-5p. a 10 potential targets of miR-154-5p was predicted by applying three online bioinformatics tools. b mRNA levels of three potential targets in Hep3B cell with miR-154-5p overexpression. c The effect of miR-154-5p on PLAGL2 protein level evaluated by western blotting. d The predicted binding sites between miR-154-5p and PLAGL2 and mutant sequences of the potential miR-154-5p binding site in PLAGL2. In addition, the result of luciferase reporter assay is exhibited. e Western blotting confirmed that MAPKAPK5-AS1 and miR-154-5p could reverse the regulatory effect on PLAGL2 expression reciprocally. f The expression level of PLAGL2 in HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues. g Expression association between PLAGL2 and miR-154-5p in HCC tissues. h Expression association between PLAGL2 and MAPKAPK5-AS1 in HCC tissues. *p < 0.05