Journal: bioRxiv
Article Title: HypoxamicroRNA-210 protects against hepatic steatosis by inhibiting CIDEC expression
doi: 10.64898/2025.12.19.695309
Figure Lengend Snippet: HepG2 cells were transfected with 1nM Control mimic (Ctrl) or miR-210 mimic, then treated with fatty acids and cultured under hypoxic conditions. miR-210 expression ( A ), intracellular triglyceride levels ( B ), and gene expression ( C ) were analyzed. ( D ) CIDEC protein expression was assessed by Western blotting. Quantification is shown in the histogram. (E-F) RNA pull-down assays. (E) Schematic illustration of the RNA pull-down experiment. Sequences of biotin-conjugated miR-210 mimic and the CIDEC mRNA 3’UTR region containing miR-210 binding site are shown. HepG2 cells were transfected with biotin-conjugated miR-210 mimic or control mimic, treated with fatty acids under hypoxic conditions. Streptavidin-coated magnetic beads captured biotin-labeled miR-210 and associated mRNAs via its binding sites in 3’ UTR. (F) qPCR analysis of miR-210, CIDEC and ACTB (negative control) mRNAs in the pull-down fraction. (G–H) Dual-luciferase reporter assay in HepG2 cells co-transfected with WT (G) or mutant (Mut, H ) CIDEC 3′UTR luciferase reporter and control or miR-210 mimic, followed by exposure to fatty acids and hypoxia. (I) Western blot validation of FLAG-CIDEC-GFP and FLAG-GFP expression using anti-CIDEC and anti-FLAG antibodies. α-tubulin was used as loading control. (J) Representative confocal images demonstrating FLAG-GFP or FLAG-CIDEC-GFP expression (green), lipid droplets stained with Oil Red O (red), and nuclei stained with DAPI (blue). Scale bar: 10 μm. (K) Quantification of intracellular triglyceride levels under the indicated conditions. Data are presented as mean ± SEM; n=3-6. Statistical significance was determined by unpaired Student’s t-test test or Mann-Whitney U test. * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01. ns: no significant difference.
Article Snippet: Human hepatoma cell line HepG2 cells (ATCC, USA) were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM, 4.5 g/L glucose) supplemented with 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/mL streptomycin, and 10% FBS (ThermoFisher Scientific).
Techniques: Transfection, Control, Cell Culture, Expressing, Gene Expression, Western Blot, Binding Assay, Magnetic Beads, Labeling, Negative Control, Luciferase, Reporter Assay, Mutagenesis, Biomarker Discovery, Staining, MANN-WHITNEY