Novel miR-490-3p/hnRNPA1-b/PKM2 axis mediates the Warburg effect and proliferation of colon cancer cells via the PI3K/AKT pathway

Figure 4 MiR-490-3P attenuates the Warburg effect and inhibits colon cancer cell proliferation. A: The effect of miR-490-3P mimics or inhibitor on miR-490-3P expression was analyzed through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis; B and C: SW620 and HCT116 cells were transfected with miR-490-3P control or mimics or inhibitor for 48 h. Then glucose uptake and lactate production were measured. Scale bar: 100 μm; D: The viability of SW620 and HCT116 cells transfected with miR-490-3P mimetics or inhibitors was evaluated using the cell counting kit-8 detection method; E: 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine incorporation assays were performed in SW620 and HCT116 cells with miR-490-3P mimics or inhibitor. The percentage of proliferating cells (red fluorescence) to total cells (blue fluorescence) was calculated. Scale bar: 100 μm; F and G: Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the effect of miR-490-3P mimics or inhibitor on the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001 vs mimics-NC group; ^dP < 0.05, ^eP < 0.01, ^fP < 0.001 vs inhibitor-NC group, n = 3. NC: Normal control.