Luciferase reporter gene assay.

<p>pMIR-Rorc and pMIR-Rorc(m) 3′UTR luciferase plasmid were co-transfected with control or miR-30b* mimic (A), and pMIR-CD8a and pMIR-CD8a(m) with control or miR-196b (B) into HEK293 cells. Luciferase activity was evaluated at 24 h post transfections. Data are presented as means standard error of mean (SEM). The differences were evaluated by a one-way ANOVA followed by Bonferroni’s test. **<i>*P<0.001</i> was considered statistically significant when the wild-type pMIR was compared to the mutant mismatch sequence in the presence of the respective miRNA mimic.