Fig. 3

STAT3 activates miR-328-3p transcription and mediates the HBV/HBc/HBx-induced upregulation of miR-328-3p. a THLE-2 cells were cultured with recombinant human IL-6 protein (200 ng/mL), S3I-201 (50 μM), or DMSO (vehicle control) for 24 h, followed by qRT-PCR analysis of miR-328-3p expression. b Resultant ChIP DNA was amplified by qRT-PCR. CHIP-qPCR assay confirmed the direct binding of STAT3 to the miR-328 promoter. IgG served as a negative control. IL-6 was used to activate STAT3. c–e THLE-2 cells were transfected with pHBV1.3, pHBc, pHBx and empty pcDNA3.1 vector (control), followed by S3I-201 (50 μM, 24 h) or not, under LPS stimulation (1 μg/mL, 24 h). Then c qRT-PCR was conducted to examine miR-328-3p expression. d ELISA was performed to detect levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, and IL-18. e Western blot was performed to measure protein expression of STAT3, and p-STAT3. Values are presented as the mean ± SD (n = 3). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 vs. LPS + Vector. ^##P < 0.01 vs. LPS + pHBV1.3. ^&&P < 0.01 vs. LPS + pHBc. ^$$P < 0.01 vs. LPS + pHBx