Fig. 5

PPM1A was a downstream target of miR-140-3p. A The predicted binding sequence of miR-140-3p and PPM1A was shown. B Relative luciferase activity was determined by dual-luciferase reporter assay in RA-FLSs co-transfected with PPM1A 3′UTR WT and PPM1A 3′UTR MUT and miR-NC or miR-140-3p. C, D The mRNA and protein expression of PPM1A was examined in synovial tissues from RA patients (n = 22) and normal patients (n = 22) by qRT-PCR and western blot assays, respectively. E, F PPM1A mRNA and protein levels were determined in RA-FLSs and control H-FLSs by qRT-PCR and western blot assays, respectively. G The enrichment of miR-140-3p was examined via qRT-PCR in RA-FLSs with transfection of miR-NC or miR-140-3p. H, I The mRNA and protein levels of PPM1A in RA-FLSs with transfection of miR-NC or miR-140-3p were tested by qRT-PCR and western blot assays, respectively. J, K PPM1A mRNA and protein levels were detected in RA-FLSs with transfection of si-NC, si-circMAPK9#2, si-circMAPK9#2 + anti-miR-NC, or si-circMAPK9#2 + anti-miR-140-3p by qRT-PCR and western blot assays, respectively. *P < 0.05