Fig. 5: Verifying the relationship among TCONS_00039830, miR-455-3p and Smad2.

a Starbase predicted the binding regions between the Smad2 3’-UTR and miR-455-3p; b Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the targeted binding between miR-455-3p and Smad2 in hepatocytes; c Starbase predicted the binding regions between TCONS_00039830 and miR-455-3p; d Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to verify the targeted binding between TCONS_00039830 and miR-455-3p in hepatocytes; e The relative expression of TCONS_00039830 in hepatocytes transfected with Control, Vector, and TCONS_00039830-overexpression plasmid detected by RT–qPCR; f The relative expression of miR-455-3p in hepatocytes transfected with Control, Vector, and TCONS_00039830-overexpression plasmid measured by RT–qPCR; g The relative mRNA expression of Smad2 in hepatocytes transfected with Control, Vector, and TCONS_00039830-overexpression plasmid determined by RT–qPCR; h The relative mRNA expression of miR-455-3p in hepatocytes transfected with Control, NC, and miR-455-3p mimic assessed by RT–qPCR; i The relative protein expression of Smad2 in hepatocytes transfected with Control, NC, and miR-455-3p mimic measured by Western blotting, as well as the quantification results. **P < 0.01,***P < 0.001, versus NC or Control group; ^###P < 0.001 versus Mut- TCONS_00039830 group. x̅ ± SD.