Validation of mature and precursor miRNA activation by the tagged RT-PCR assay.

(A) Schematic of the tagged semi-quantitative RT-PCR strategy used for precursor and mature miRNA amplification in monocytes treated with LPS or medium alone. (B) RT-PCR analysis reveals detection of the precursor and mature forms of LPS-upregulated miRNAs hsa-mir-155, hsa-mir-146a, hsa-mir-9, hsa-mir-147b, and hsa-mir-193a, as well as control hsa-mir-21 after 6 hours of culture (n = 3). Black triangles denote gel band size of precursor miRNAs, while black arrows denote the mature miRNAs. Mk = marker, L = LPS-treated, M = medium-only.