Fig 2: Percentage of Lin28-IR neurons in the VMH of rats of different age group. n = 5 per group (* p < 0.01, comparing 2-month-old rats; ** p < 0.05, comparing 6-month-old rats).

Fig 3: Dysregulation of Lin28/let-7c axis is observed in CRC patient tissues and cell lines. (A) Immunohistochemical staining of Lin28 in normal and CRC tissues from patients (scale bar, 50 µm). (B-E) mRNA and protein levels of Lin28 were increased in (B and C) CRC patient tissues and (D and E) CRC cell lines compared with normal tissues and NCM460 normal colon epithelial cells, respectively. (F and G) Let-7c levels were decreased in (F) patients with CRC and (G) CRC cell lines compared with normal tissues and NCM460 normal colon epithelial cells, respectively. Patient tissues, n=10; cell lines, n=5 independent experiments. *P<0.05 and **P<0.01 vs. normal tissues or NCM460 cells). CRC, colorectal cancer.

Fig 4: Percentage of Lin28-IR neurons, colocalizing AkT, PI3K, mTOR and Raptor in the VMH of rats of different age group. n = 5 per group (* p < 0.05, comparing 2-month-old rats; ? p < 0.05, comparing 12-month-old rats; ? p < 0.05, comparing 24-month-old rats).

Fig 5: Colocalization of Lin28 with PI3K in the VMH neurons of 6-month-old (a–c), 12-month-old (d–f) and 24-month-old (g–i) male rats. Double labeling of Lin28 (a,d,g, green, left panel), PI3K (b,e,h, red, middle) and composite image (c,f,i, right). Bar, 25 µm.