HCV core-induced microRNA-345 inhibits <i>p21^Waf1/Cip1</i> gene expression in HepG2 cells and curcumin-stimulated Huh7 cells.

<p>(<b>A</b>) HCV core (amino acid 1–191 or 1–173)-expressing HepG2 cells were transfected with miR-345 inhibitor (5 nM or 10 nM). At 24 hours after transfection, <i>p21^Waf1/Cip1</i> gene expression at protein level was analyzed by Western blotting. β-actin served as an internal control. (<b>B</b>) HCV core (amino acid 1–191 or 1–173)-expressing Huh7 cells in response to curcumin stimulation were transfected with miR-345 inhibitor (5 nM or 10 nM). At 24 hours after transfection, <i>p21^Waf1/Cip1</i> gene expression at protein level was analyzed by Western blotting. β-actin served as an internal control (upper panel). Apoptosis was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy (middle panel) and FACS Calibur (lower panel) using Annexin V-FITC apoptosis assay. Original magnifications ×200. Cells from early apoptotic stage were stained with annexin V-FITC, and appeared green. Cells from late apoptotic stage were stained with both annexin V-FITC and PI, and merged to be yellow. Data was shown as the means ± S.D. from triplicate experiments. *<i>P</i><0.05, **<i>P</i><0.001.