Fig. 3

miR-138-1-3p involved in sorafenib resistance by targeting PAK5. A The process of research for target genes. B The expression of PAK5 in tumor tissues and adjacent normal tissues from 40 HCC patients was tested by qRT-PCR. C The predicted binding sequences between miR-138-1-3p and PAK5 by web-based softwares (TargetScan and miRTarBase). The red section was a sign of mutated bases. The luciferase activities of PAK5-WT and PAK5-mut reporters in Hep3B and HepG2 cells after transfecting with mimics-NC or miR-138-1-3p mimics measured by dual-luciferase reporter assays. D qRT-PCR and Western Blot were conducted to determine the expression of PAK5 in Hep3B-SR and HepG2-SR cells compared with their parental cells. E qRT-PCR  and Western Blot were conducted to determine the expression of PAK5 after miR-138-1-3p overexpression or knockdown in Hep3B and HepG2 cells. F Western Blot was conducted to determine the expression of PAK5 after the co-transfection as follow in Hep3B and HepG2 cells. G and H The cell viability and flow cytometric analysis were used to assess the influence after the co-transfection as follow on cell viability and apoptosis in Hep3B and HepG2 cells