Figure 5

Cell proliferation ability and apoptosis rate could be rescued by MAP3K2 or PBX3. HepG2 cells and SMMC-7721 cells were cultured and transfected with miR-302a mimics, miR-302a mimics + Over-MAP3K2, miR-302a mimics + Over-PBX3 or miR-shNC. (A–C) Overexpression of MAP3K2 could significantly increase the MAP3K2 expression in cells. Then higher expression of MAP3K2 could promote cell proliferation and reduce apoptosis (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01). (D–F) Overexpression of PBX3 could rescue the expression of PBX3 in HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells. Then higher expression of PBX3 could promote cell proliferation and reduce apoptosis (*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).