Fig. 3: HOTAIR overexpression weakened the radiosensitivity of CRC cells by downregulating miR-93.

a Predicted complementary sites between HOTAIR and miR-93, and mutant sites in HOTAIR-Mut reporter. b SW480 and HCT116 cells were transfected with miR-NC or miR-93 mimic. Forty-eight hours later, miR-93 level was measured by RT-qPCR assay. c, d SW480 and HCT116 cells were co-transfected with miR-NC or miR-93 mimic and HOTAIR-Wt or HOTAIR-Mut reporter, followed by the detection of luciferase activities at 48 h after transfection. e, f SW480 and HCT116 cells were transfected with siHOTAIR or its scrambled control, HOTAIR overexpression plasmid or its empty vector. Then, miR-93 level was measured by RT-qPCR assay at 48 h post transfection. g, h SW480 and HCT116 cells were transfected with miR-NC, miR-93 mimic, miR-93 + Vector, or miR-93 + HOTAIR for 24 h prior to the irradiation of various doses (0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 Gy) of IR. Then, cell survival fractions were measured by radiation clonogenic survival assay at 2 weeks after irradiation. i–m SW480 and HCT116 cells were transfected with miR-NC, miR-93 mimic, miR-93 + Vector, or miR-93 + HOTAIR for 24 h and then treated with or without 4 Gy of IR for 24 h, followed by the measurement of cell viability, cell apoptotic rate, protein levels of LC3 I, LC3 II, p62, cleaved caspase 3, Bax, and Bcl-2. *P < 0.05.