Fig. 7: CircMTO1 inhibited the malignant progression of HCC via miR-541-5p/ZIC1 by regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling and EMT.

A–C SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells were transfected with miR-541-5p mimics or miR-541-5p inhibitor. A-C β-catenin, cyclin D1, c-myc, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and MMP2 mRNA and protein expression were detected through RT-qPCR and western blot, respectively. D–F SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells were transfected with si-circMTO1 or co-transfected with si-circMTO1 and miR-541-5p inhibitor D–F, β-catenin, cyclin D1, c-myc, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and MMP2 mRNA and protein expression were detected through RT-qPCR and western blot, respectively. Data were presented as mean ± SD of three independent experiments, *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001.