Fig. 5

LINC00221 upregulates the MMP11 expression by competitively binding to let-7a-5p. a LncATLAS website for lncRNA subcellular localization revealed that LINC00221 was mainly located in the cytoplasm. b The subcellular localization of LINC00221 verified by FISH assay (× 400; the left) and the co-localization profile intensity (the right). c Venn map (http://bioinformatics.psb.ugent.be/webtools/Venn/) showing downstream regulatory miRNAs of LINC00221 predicted by RNA22 database (https://cm.jefferson.edu/rna22/Precomputed/) (blue circle) and downregulated miRNAs in HCC samples from GSE12717 microarray (red circle). d The binding site between LINC00221 and let-7a-5p sequences predicted on the RNA22 website. e Venn map showing downstream target genes of let-7a-5p predicted by Starbase (http://starbase.sysu.edu.cn/index.php) (blue circle), mirDIP (http://ophid.utoronto.ca/mirDIP/) (red circle), and miRDB (http://www.mirdb.org/) (green circle), and upregulated genes in HCC samples from GSE89377 microarray (yellow circle) and from GSE117361 microarray (orange circle). f The binding site between let-7a-5p and MMP11 predicted on the RNA22 website. g The relationships among LINC00221, let-7a-5p and MMP11 identified by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. h The let-7a-5p expression in HCC and adjacent non-tumor tissues (n = 45) examined by RT-qPCR. i The MMP11 protein expression in HCC and adjacent non-tumor tissues (n = 45) measured by Western blot analysis. j The relationships among LINC00221, let-7a-5p and Ago2 determined by RIP assay. k The binding of LINC00221 to let-7a-5p identified by RNA pull-down. l The regulatory effect of LINC00221 on let-7a-5p expression examined by RT-qPCR. m MMP11 protein expression after upregulation of let-7a-5p measured by western blot analysis. Cell experiments were independently repeated 3 times. *p < 0.05 vs. the mimic NC group, si-NC group or adjacent non-tumor tissues (n = 45); ^&p < 0.05 vs. the IgG group; ^#p < 0.05 vs. the Bio-LINC00221-MUT group. Comparison between HCC and adjacent non-tumor tissues was made using paired t-test while comparison between other two groups was performed by unpaired t-test