Interplay between microRNA-17-5p, insulin-like growth factor-II through binding protein-3 in hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 4 Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 is a direct target of miR-17-5p. For each target sequence, experiments were performed by transfecting HuH-7 cells with either empty pmiRGLO vector, or the construct with the wild-type (WT) miR-17-5p target region insert, or the construct with the mutant (MUT) miR-17-5p target region insert. Then miR-17-5p mimics were co-transfected with the vectors or constructs. A: Luciferase activity was not affected in cells co-transfected with miR-17-5p mimics and WT1 construct compared to cells transfected with the WT1 construct alone; B: On the other hand, luciferase activity was inhibited by 27.5%, in cells co-transfected with miR-17-5p mimics and WT2 construct compared to cells transfected with the WT2 construct alone (P = 0.0474). The cells transfected with either of the mutant constructs (MUT1 or MUT2) show no change in the luciferase activity upon mimicking with miR-17-5p. Unpaired t-test was performed. ^aP < 0.05. NS: Not significant; IGFBP-3: Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3; miR 17-5p: MicroRNA-17-5p.