MALAT1 functions as a competing endogenous RNA to regulate SMAD5 expression by acting as a sponge for miR-142-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma

Overexpressed MALAT1 acts as a competing endogenous RNA sponge for miR-142-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma. a The expression of MALAT1 in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues was assessed by Q-PCR. n？=？30. b The expression of MALAT1 in two subsets tissues (lymph node metastase positive and lymph node metastase negative) was analyzed by Q-PCR. c The expression of MALAT1 was significantly overexpressed in cancer subsets (Stage III and Stage IV) with respect to other subsets (Stage I and Stage II). d The putative-binding sites between MALAT1 and miR-142-3p were predicted by bioinformatics analysis. e Q-PCR was used to analyze the expression of miR-142-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues. f Correlation between relative MALAT1 level and miR-142-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues with linear regression lines. g Q-PCR was used to analyze the level of MALAT1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and a human liver cell line. h HepG2 cells were transfected by MALAT1 overexpression plasmid. Q-PCR was used to analyze the levels of miR-142-3p. i A luciferase reporter plasmid containing wild-type or mutant MALAT1 was co-transfected with miR-142-3p mimics or NC into HEK-293 T cells. Luciferase assay was performed. Data represent three independent experiments (mean and SEM of triplicate samples). *P？<？0.05, **P？<？0.01. ***P？<？0.001. SEM, standard error of the mea