Figure 3

miR-302a suppresses cell proliferation and MAPK signaling pathway, and enhances apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. (A–C) HepG2 cells proliferation was inhibited by miR-302a mimics. Overexpression of miR-302a increased the rate of apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Then ALDH1, p-ERK, p-JNK, p-p38, Cyclin A, Cyclin D, Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 were detected in cells that transfected miR-302a mimics, inhibitor and miR-shNC (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01). (D–F) miR-302a vectors were transfected into SMMC-7721 cells, including mimics, inhibitor and miR-shNC. Then proliferation ability, apoptosis rate and ALDH1, Cyclin A, Cyclin D, Bcl-2, Caspase-3 and key factors in MAPK signaling pathway were detected in SMMC-7721 cells (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01). Statistical analysis was conducted using Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) method of two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).