Fig. 6

KRAL functions as a ceRNA against Keap1. a HepG2/5-FU and SMMC-7721/5-FU cells were transfected with KRAL or KRAL-mut plasmids in the presence or absence of miR141 mimics. qRT-PCR and western blotting were performed to analyse the mRNA (*p < 0.05) and protein levels (*p < 0.05 vs the con group, ^#p < 0.05 vs the KRAL group) of Keap1, respectively, GAPDH was used as a reference; data are expressed as the mean ± SD, bar graph indicates the normalized values from at least 3 separate experiments. b HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells were transfected with sh2-KRAL or sh2 -KRAL+Keap1-FLAG plasmids in the presence or absence of miR141 inhibitors. qRT-PCR and western blotting were performed to analyse the mRNA (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01) and protein levels (*p < 0.05 vs the shcon group, ^#p < 0.05 vs the sh2 group, ^&p < 0.05 vs the sh2 + Keap1-FLAG) of Keap1, respectively, GAPDH was used as a reference; data are expressed as the mean ± SD; bar graph indicates the normalized values from at least 3 separate experiments. c The correlation between the levels of KRAL and Keap1 mRNA in 30 HCC tissue samples was assessed with the pearson correlation analysis