Fig 2: HCG18 promotes DNAJB12 expression by acting as a ceRNA of miR-152-3p in GC cells. (A) The relative expression of 6 potential target genes (DNAJB12, COX6A1, PNPLA6, PDRG1, RNF145 and NDUFAF6) was detected in GC tissues (n=26) and adjacent normal tissues (n=26) by RT-qPCR assay. (B) The relative expression of DNAJB12 in human gastric mucosa cells and GC cells was detected by RT-qPCR. (C) Starbase showed the binding site between DNAJB12 and miR-152-3p. (D) Luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the binding ability between miR-152-3p and DNAJB12 in MKN45 cells. (E and F) RT-qPCR and Western blot showed the mRNA and protein levels of DNAJB12 in MKN45 cells transfected with NC mimics and miR-152-3p mimics. (G) The correlation between DNAJB12 and miR-152-3p in GC tissues was analyzed by Spearman analysis. (H and I) RT-qPCR and Western blot showed the mRNA and protein levels of DNAJB12 in MKN45 cells transfected with sh-NC and sh-HCG18#2. (J) The correlation between DNAJB12 and HCG18 in GC tissues was analyzed by Spearman analysis. (K and L) RT-qPCR and Western blot showed the mRNA and protein levels of DNAJB12 in MKN45 cells transfected with NC inhibitor, miR-152-3p inhibitor and miR-152-3p inhibitor+sh-HCG18#2. (M) Luciferase activity of wild-type DNAJB12 vectors was monitored by luciferase reporter assay in MKN45 cells transfected with NC inhibitor, miR-152-3p inhibitor or miR-152-3p inhibitor+sh-HCG18#2. *p<0.05, **p<0.01.

Fig 3: Overexpression of DNAJB12 partially restored HCG18 knockdown-attenuated progression of GC. (A and B) RT-qPCR and Western blot showed the mRNA and protein levels of DNAJB12 in MKN45 cells transfected with pcDNA3.1and pcDNA3.1/DNAJB12. (C and D) Western blot showed the protein levels of PCNA, E-cadherin and vimentin in MKN45 cells transfected with DNAJB12 and pcDNA3.1/DNAJB12. (E–G) CCK-8, wound healing and transwell assays were used to evaluate the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of MKN45 cells transfected with sh-NC, sh-HCG18#2 and sh-HCG18#2 + pcDNA3.1/DNAJB12. *p<0.05, **p<0.01.

Fig 4: HCG18 promotes DNAJB12 expression by acting as a ceRNA of miR-152-3p in GC cells. (A) The relative expression of 6 potential target genes (DNAJB12, COX6A1, PNPLA6, PDRG1, RNF145 and NDUFAF6) was detected in GC tissues (n=26) and adjacent normal tissues (n=26) by RT-qPCR assay. (B) The relative expression of DNAJB12 in human gastric mucosa cells and GC cells was detected by RT-qPCR. (C) Starbase showed the binding site between DNAJB12 and miR-152-3p. (D) Luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm the binding ability between miR-152-3p and DNAJB12 in MKN45 cells. (E and F) RT-qPCR and Western blot showed the mRNA and protein levels of DNAJB12 in MKN45 cells transfected with NC mimics and miR-152-3p mimics. (G) The correlation between DNAJB12 and miR-152-3p in GC tissues was analyzed by Spearman analysis. (H and I) RT-qPCR and Western blot showed the mRNA and protein levels of DNAJB12 in MKN45 cells transfected with sh-NC and sh-HCG18#2. (J) The correlation between DNAJB12 and HCG18 in GC tissues was analyzed by Spearman analysis. (K and L) RT-qPCR and Western blot showed the mRNA and protein levels of DNAJB12 in MKN45 cells transfected with NC inhibitor, miR-152-3p inhibitor and miR-152-3p inhibitor+sh-HCG18#2. (M) Luciferase activity of wild-type DNAJB12 vectors was monitored by luciferase reporter assay in MKN45 cells transfected with NC inhibitor, miR-152-3p inhibitor or miR-152-3p inhibitor+sh-HCG18#2. *p<0.05, **p<0.01.