Fig. 5
DLX2 was a direct target of miR-216b-5p in HCC. a The putative binding sites of DLX2 and miR-216b-5p were predicted by TargetScan. b, c The luciferase activity of Hep3B and Huh7 cells co-transfected DLX2-WT or DLX2-MUT with miR-216b-5p or miR-NC was detected. d, e The mRNA and protein expression levels of DLX2 in Hep3B and Huh7 cells transfected with miR-216b-5p or miR-NC were detected. f, g The mRNA and protein expression levels of DLX2 in Hep3B and Huh7 cells transfected with anti-miR-216b-5p or anti-miR-NC were detected (h–k). The mRNA and protein expression levels of DLX2 were measured in HCC tissues and cells. l Relationship between DLX2 and miR-216b-5p expression in HCC tissues was analyzed (R2 = 0.6632, P < 0.0001). *P < 0.05