Fig. 4

SMAD7 is a direct target of miR-423 in GCs. A Schematic showing the MRE of miR-423 in the 3'UTR of the porcine SMAD7 gene. B Schematic annotation of the reporter vectors of SMAD7 3'UTR with wild-type and mutated MRE of miR-423. C Luciferase assay. GCs were co-transfected with the reporter vectors and miR-423-specific mimics, luciferase activity was determined. D–E miR-423 regulates SMAD7 levels in GCs. GCs were transfected with miR-423-specific mimics, qPCR and western blotting were performed to detect the levels of SMAD7 mRNA (D) and protein (E). wt, wild type; mut, mutation; NC, negative control. Data represented are mean ± SEM for three independent experiments. ^**P < 0.01