Hepatitis B core antigen modulates exosomal miR-135a to target vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 promoting chemoresistance in hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 2 miR-135a-5p targeted vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. A: Prediction results of target gene of miR-135a-5p; B: The expression of miR-135a-5p was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in HepG2 cells transfected with miR-135a-5p mimics; C and D: The mRNA and protein levels of vesicle-associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2) were detected in the overexpressed miR-135a-5p cells; E: Quantification of miR-135a-5p in HepG2 cells transfected with miR-135a-5p inhibitors; F and G: qPCR and western blot analyses of VAMP2 level in HepG2 cells transfected with miR-135a-5p inhibitors; H: Luciferase assay in HepG2 cells. ^aP < 0.05; ^bP < 0.01; NS: Not Statistically Significant. GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; VAMP2: Vesicle-associated membrane protein 2; WT: Wild-type; MUT: Mutant.