Fig. 2

The effect of miR-188-3p overexpression or inhibition on ATG7 expression and the verification of their interaction sites. A ATG7 gene expression after overexpression/inhibition of miR-188-3p was significantly lower/higher than the ATG7 gene expression in the control group. B The expression of ATG7 protein in the miR-188-3p mimic group was lower than the expression of ATG7 protein in the control group, as detected by Western blot. C The expression of ATG7 protein in the miR-188-3p inhibitor group was higher, as detected by Western blot. D The mutual binding sites between miR-188-3p and ATG7 were predicted. E The ATG7 3'-UTR wild-type (WT) plasmids and mutant (MUT) plasmids were constructed and sequenced as dual luciferase reporter. F miR-188-3p expression after miR-188-3p overexpression/inhibition was significantly higher/lower than the miR-188-3p expression in the control group. G The luciferase activity of ATG7 3'-UTR WT was lower in the miR-188-3p mimic group than in the miR-188-3p mimic NC group. There was no significant difference in MUT luciferase activity between the two groups. *Statistically significant difference compared with the control group (P < 0.05)