Effects of miR-204, -211, and -379 on Smad signaling.

<p>Smad signaling was quantified using a luciferase construct which encodes the firefly luciferase reporter gene under the control of a minimal (m)CMV promoter and tandem repeats of the Smad transcriptional response element. The luciferase reporter construct and miRNA precursors were co-transfected into MDA-MB-231(SA) cells (n = 3), and the medium was replaced with serum-free medium 16 hours after transfection. TGF-β was added 8 hours later. Activity of the firefly luciferase reporter and Renilla luciferase was measured after 16 hour TGF-β induction. * p<0.05, ** p<0.01, as compared to the Pre-miR negative control and Smad reporter-transfected cells.