Fig. 4

PPARγ was targeted by miR-96-5p in HNPCs. A Complementary sites for miR-96-5p and PPARγ as predicted by Starbase database. B Analysis of the luciferase activity of the luciferase reporter plasmid containing either WT or MUT PPARγ 3'-UTR in HNPCs following co-transfection with the constructed plasmids PPARγ and miR-96-5p mimics or negative control by luciferase reporter assay. C The targeting relationship between miR-96-5p and PPARγ in HNPCs was validated by dual luciferase reporter assay. D PPARγ mRNA expression in HNPCs transfected with miR-96-5p mimic detected by qRT-PCR. E, F PPARγ protein expression in HNPCs transfected with miR-96-5p mimic detected by Western blot. (**P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 vs. NC group; ^###P < 0.001 vs. MUT-PPARγ group). PPARγ, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ; mRNA, messenger RNA; 3'-UTR, 3'-untranslated region; NC, normal control; WT, wild-type; MUT, mutant; HNPCs, human nucleus pulposus cells; qRT-PCR, quantification real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction