Fig. 6

Inhibition of HCG18 can inhibit TGF-β 1/SMADs pathway activity by promoting hsa-miR-146a-5p expression. (A) The expression level of hsa-miR-146a-5p decreased after HCG18 knocking down, but could be reversed by co-transfection with hsa-miR-146a-5p inhibitor (n = 3, *** p < 0.001). (B) The expression level of SMAD4 mRNA significantly increased after HCG18 knockdown, but can be reversed by co-transfecting hsa-miR-146a-5p inhibitor (n = 3, *** p < 0.001). (C) Knocking down HCG18 can significantly reduce the protein expression levels of phospho-SMAD2, phospho-SMAD3, SMAD4, and TGF - β 1, and increase expression levels of SMAD7, an effect that can be remedied by co transfection of hsa-miR-146a-5p inhibitor(n = 3). (D) Knocking down HCG18 can significantly reduce apoptosis of NPCs, an effect that can be remedied by co transfection of hsa-miR-146a-5p inhibitor (n = 3). Wound healing (E, F) and CCK-8 (G) assays suggest that knocking down HCG18 can significantly increase migration and proliferation of NPCs, an effect which can be remedied by co-transfection of hsa-miR-146a-5p inhibitor (n = 3, *** p < 0.001)