Fig. 4

Circ_0027345 overexpression promoted cell progression in matrine-induced HCC cells by reducing miR-345-5p. Huh-7 and HCCLM3 cells were exposed to different treatments and were divided into the following six groups: control, Mat, Mat + pcDNA-NC, Mat + pcDNA-circ_0027345, Mat + pcDNA-circ_0027345 + miR-NC or Mat + pcDNA-circ_0027345 + miR-345-5p. a The expression of miR-345-5p was measured by qRT-PCR. b, c Cell viability and apoptosis were estimated using CCK-8 assay and Flow cytometry, respectively. d, e The levels of Bcl-2, Bax and cleaved-caspase 9 were detected by western blot. f, g Cell cycle was evaluated by Flow cytometry. h, i Cell migration and invasion were analyzed via Transwell assay. j, k The levels of LC3-II, LC3-I and Beclin 1 were examined by western blot. *P < 0.05