Figure 5

miR-214 reduces tumor formation in vivo. (a) Stable expressing miR-214 and the control (pcDNA6.2) Huh7 cell lines were subcutaneously injected into nude mice. (b) miR-214 expression was detected in the mice livers (n = 3) with Euthyroid (Eu), Hypothyroid (Hypo), and Hyperthyroid (Hyper) by qRT-PCR. (c) To detect miR-214 expression in the mice liver (n = 5) with DEN or DEN/Hyper, and the morphology of the livers, and the U6 was a loading control. The data are presented as the means ± s.d. (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 vs. Hypo or DEN). (d) miR-214 expression levels were determined in 108 pairs of HCC specimens by qRT-PCR, and U6 was used as a loading control. The data are presented as 39-∆Ct (e) PIM-1 protein expression levels were determined in 61 pairs of HCC specimens by western blot, and β-actin was used as a loading control. The data are presented as the T/N ratio. (f) The correlation of miR-214 and PIM-1 in 40 pairs HCC specimens was analyzed by the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. (g) The PIM-1 and TR protein expressions are shown in 10 pairs of representative HCC specimens. (h) The cartoon illustrating the major observations reports that the thyroid hormone suppresses HCC cell proliferation by inducing miR-214 to repress PIM-1. (*p < 0.05;**p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001 vs. Vector or Normal).