Hepatitis B core antigen modulates exosomal miR-135a to target vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 promoting chemoresistance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 3 miR-135a-5p suppressed apoptosis and promoted proliferation. A and B: Annexin V-FITC/PI assay for the effect of overexpression or knockdown of miR-135a-5p on apoptosis of HepG2 cells; C and D: The protein expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in the group with overexpression of miR-135a-5p and the miR-135a-5p inhibited group; E and F: Cell counting kit 8 assays were used to determine the proliferation of HepG2 cells transfected with miR-135a-5p mimics and miR-135a-5p inhibitors; G and H: Western blot analyses of the level of mini-chromosome maintenance protein-2 (MCM2) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the group with overexpression of miR-135a-5p and the miR-135a-5p inhibited group; I: Confocal image showing that HepG2 cells were treated with exosomes rich in miR-135a-5p; J: Flow cytometry analysis of the effect of exosomal miR-135a-5p on cell apoptosis; K: Cell counting assay was performed to determine the proliferation of HepG2 cells treated with exosomes with overexpressed miR-135a-5p; L: Western blot analyses of Bcl-2, MCM2, PCNA and vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 in HepG2 cells incubated with mimic-loaded EXO or NC-loaded EXO. ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01. Bcl-2: B-cell lymphoma-2; MCM2: Mini-chromosome maintenance protein-2; PCNA: Proliferating cell nuclear antigen.