Fig. 4

PIK3R1 is a direct target of miR-17-5p. a Potential binding site of miR-17-5p at the 3′ UTR of PIK3R1 mRNA. b Hep2 cells were transfected with miR-17-5p mimic or mimic-NC. The miR-17-5p expression level was detect by using qRT-PCR. ***P < 0.001 vs. mimic-NC. c Hep2 cells were co-transfected with miR-17-5p mimic or mimic-NC and luciferase reporter plasmid containing wild-type or mutated miR-17-5p-binding site (mut) at PIK3R1 3′-UTR. Luciferase reporter assay was used to detect luciferase activity. **P < 0.01 vs. mimic-NC. d Hep2 cells were transfected with miR-17-5p mimic, miR-17-5p inhibitor or negative control. Western blot analysis was used to detect protein expression levels of PIK3R1, AKT and p-AKT. Right panel shows densitometric analysis. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs. corresponding negative control. e Cells were treated as (d), PIK3R1 mRNA level was detected by using qRT-PCR. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs. corresponding negative control