Fig. 6

Exogenous expression of MiR-101 enhances apoptosis by LSCC cells. A The Hep-2 cells in the miR-101-treated group (c) exhibited significantly higher levels of apoptosis (12.51 ± 2.22 %) 72 h after transduction than the Hep-2 cells in the blank control group (a) (4.12 ± 0.85 %) and the cells in the negative control group (b) (3.45 ± 1.39 %) (P < 0.05). Representative histograms of the three independent experiments that were performed are shown. B In the TUNEL assays performed, a significantly higher number of apoptotic cells were detected in the miR-101-treated group (c) (27.07 ± 3.66 %) compared with the negative control group (b) (5.73 ± 2.43 %) and the blank control group (a) (4.97 ± 2.14 %) (P < 0.05). C Using transmission electron microscopy, tumour cells in the miR-101-treated group (c) were found to exhibit a morphology characteristic of apoptosis, while tumour cells in the negative control group (b) and the blank control group exhibited normal morphology (a) (×12,000 magnification).