Fig 2: miR-126 targets PIK3R2 and PI3K/mTOR signaling in lung cancer cells. (a) The functions of miRNAs are elucidated with analyses of the genes they target. PIK3R2 was identified as a putative target of miR-126; (b) KD of miR-126 could increase the protein level of phospharylated PI3K and mTOR, but not the protein level of total PI3K and mTOR in A549 cells; (c) KD of miR-126 could increase the protein level of phospharylated PI3K and mTOR, but not the protein level of total PI3K and mTOR in H1650 cells.

Fig 3: Blocking PI3K compromised increase of miR-126 KD on apoptosis in lung cancer cells. (a) Two si-PI3KR2 vectors significantly decreased mRNA expression of PI3KR2 in A549 cells (**P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, n = 4); (b) KD of PI3KR2 compromised increase of miR-126 KD on increase of caspase 3 mRNA expression in A549 cells (**P < 0.01, n = 4); (c) KD of PI3KR2 compromised increase of miR-126 KD on increase of caspase 9 mRNA expression in A549 cells (**P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, n = 4); (d) KD of PI3KR2 compromised increase of miR-126 KD on decrease of cell viability in A549 cells (**P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, n = 4); (e) two si-PI3KR2 vectors and si-scramble vectors were transfected in H1650 cells, which indicated that two si-PI3KR2 vectors significantly decreased mRNA expression of PI3KR2 in H1650 cells (**P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, n = 4); (f) KD of PI3KR2 compromised increase of miR-126 KD on increase of caspase 3 mRNA expression in H1650 cells (**P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, n = 4); (g) KD of PI3KR2 compromised increase of miR-126 KD on increase of caspase 9 mRNA expression in H1650 cells (**P < 0.01, n = 4); (h) KD of PI3KR2 compromised increase of miR-126 KD on decrease of cell viability in H1650 cells (**P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001, n = 4).