Fig 1: Validation of miR-518a-3p potential target genes MST1 and EFNA4a qRT-PCR quantification of the mRNA level of MST1 and EFNA4 genes. BeWo, JAR, and JEG-3 cells were transfected with miR-518a-3p mimic/inhibitor or controls. Cells were harvested at 36 h post transfection, and a-tubulin served as the endogenous reference gene. b Western blotting analysis of MST1 and EFNA4. Cells were harvested at 48 h post transfection, and a-tubulin was taken as the endogenous control. c Direct interaction of miR-518a-3p and MST1. Upper: bioinformatic predicted miR-518a-3p targeting site in 3'-UTR of MST1. Lower: luciferase activity assay. At 48 h post co-transfection with MST1-WT or MST1-MUT and miR-518a-3p mimic/inhibitor or control mimic/inhibitor, luciferase activities were measured in HTR-8/SVneo cells. Renilla luciferase activities in corresponding controls were normalized to 1. Mck stands for control mimic and ick stands for control inhibitor. N = 9, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001