miR-21-5p Inhibits Ferroptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Regulating the AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway through MELK

Figure 6

Animal experiments demonstrate that miR-21-5p inhibits ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by regulating the AKT/mTOR pathway through MELK: (a) tumor size in nude mice; (b) tumor growth curve; (c) tumor weight in nude mice; (d) staining of immunohistochemical Ki-67; (e) pathway-related proteins MELK, AKT, mTOR, p-AKT, p-mTOR, and ferroptosis-related proteins GPX4, HO-1, FTH1, and xCT were detected by Western blot. The levels of E-cadherin, vimentin, fibronectin, and N-cadherin; (f) kit assay of the level of GSH; (g) kit assay of Fe²⁺ content; (h) kit assay of ROS content, , , .

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