Fig. 5

SNHG1 acted as a ceRNA to enhance TERT expression by sponging miR-18b-5p. a Transfection efficacy of miR-18b-5p mimics in MDA-MB-468 and Hs578T cells. b, c Overexpression of miR-18b-5p downregulated TERT mRNA and protein expression. d, e miR-18b-5p inhibitor upregulated TERT mRNA and protein expression. f, g Overexpression of miR-18b-5p inhibited SNHG1 expression; however, downregulated miR-18b-5p promoted SNHG1 expression. h Silencing SNHG1 and inhibiting miR-18b-5p weakened the downregulation of TERT at the protein level in MDA-MB-468 and Hs578T cells. i, j A luciferase reporter assay was used to assess the interactions between miR-18b-5p and its binding sites or mutated binding sites in the 3′ UTRs of TERT and SNHG1 in HEK293T cells. k, l siSNHG1-mediated restraint of cell proliferation and invasion abilities was partially rescued by co-transfection of miR-18b-5p inhibitor in Hs578T and MDA-MB-468 cells. m miR-18b-5p expression in Balb/C mice with snhg1 knockdown. Data are presented as the mean value from three independent experiments ± S.D. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01; ***P < 0.001; *****P < 0.0001; NS no significance