PTEN silencing reversed the suppressive effects of miR-222 inhibitor on DRG neurons.

<p>A. The mRNA or protein level of PTEN was down-regulated by transfection with PTEN-siRNA-1 (siRNA-1), or PTEN-siRNA-2 (siRNA-2) as compared with that of siRNA control (NC) in DRG neurons. B. Both siRNA-1 and siRNA-2 significantly promoted the neurite outgrowth from DRG neurons as compared with that of NC at 72 h after transfection. **<i>P</i><0.01 vs. NC. Scale bar, 50 µm. C. The neurite outgrowth from DRG neurons was observed at 72 h after transfection with miR-222 inhibitor (anti-miR-222) with or without siRNA-2. Anti-miR-222 reduced the mean longest neurite length as well as the mean total neurite length (per neuron). In the presence of siRNA-2, anti-miR-222-mediated decrease in neurite outgrowth was abolished. Scale bar, 30 µm.