Fig 2: MiR-1178-3p targeted YWHAH to regulate proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of PTC cells. A–K PTC cells were transfected with miR-NC, miR-1178-3p, miR-1178-3p + vector, or miR-1178-3p + YWHAH. A–D Analysis of proliferation and cell cycle progression of PTC cells by CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays. E Assessment of protein levels of cyclinD1 and p21 in PTC cells by western blotting. F Detection of the apoptosis of PTC cells by flow cytometry assay. G Measurement of protein levels of Bax and Bcl-2 in PTC cells by western blotting. H–K Analysis of migration, invasion, and angiogenesis of PTC cells by wound-healing, transwell, and tube formation assays. *P < 0.05 vs. miR-NC or miR-1178-3p + vector

Fig 3: MiR-1178-3p directly targeted YWHAH in PTC cells. A A schematic presented the putative binding sites between YWHAH 3’UTR and miR-1178-3p. B and C The putative binding sites between YWHAH 3’UTR and miR-1178-3p was validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay. *P < 0.05 vs. miR-NC. D RT-qPCR analysis of the level of YWHAH mRNA in PTC tissues. *P < 0.05 vs. adjacent normal thyroid tissues. E and F Western blotting analysis of the protein level of YWHAH in PTC tissues (n = 6) and cells. *P < 0.05 vs. adjacent normal thyroid tissues or Nthy-ori 3-1 cells. G Western blotting verified the overexpression efficiency of YWHAH in PTC cells. *P < 0.05 vs. vector. H Western blotting analyzed the impact of YWHAH overexpression on the protein level of YWHAH in miR-1178-3p-elelvated PTC cells. *P < 0.05 vs. miR-NC or miR-1178-3p + vector