Fig. 7

ZKSCAN3 is identified as a direct target of miR-124 in HCC. a miR-124 and its putative binding sequence in the 3′-UTR of ZKSCAN3. b miR-124 significantly suppresses the luciferase activity that carried wild-type (wt) but not mutant (mt) 3′-UTR of ZKSCAN3. Anti-miR-124 led to a notable increase in the luciferase activity of wt 3′-UTR of ZKSCAN3. c qRT-PCR analysis of ZKSCAN3 mRNA expression in HCCLM3 cells with miR-124 or miR-control vector transfection and Hep3B cells with anti-miR-124 or anti-miR-NC vector transfection. d Overexpression of miR-124 reduced the expression of ZKSCAN3 protein in HCCLM3 cells and knockdown of miR-124 increases the level of ZKSCAN3 protein in Hep3B cells. e The expression level of miR-124 in HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues. f A significant inverse correlation between the mRNA levels of ZKSCAN3 and miR-124 was observed in HCC tissues. *P < 0.05