Fig. 5

Metformin and cisplatin affect expression of miR-148/-152 and DNMTs synergistically. Effects of metformin combined with cisplatin on the expression of miR-148/-152 family members and DNMTs were analyzed in A549 cells. Metformin (0 mM and 5 mM) and cisplatin (0 mM, 6.25 mM, 12.5 mM, and 25 mM) were used alone or in combination. After 72 h of drug treatment, expression levels of miR-148-/-152 family members (A–I) and DNMTs (J) were analyzed using qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively. The graph shows mean ± standard deviation of relative expression of miR-148/-152 family members from three independent experiments. Fold change (y-axis) represents expression of the target mRNAs at other concentrations of metformin and cisplatin relative to expression after treatment with 0 mM of metformin (A, D, G), 0 mM of metformin and cisplatin (B, E, H), or 5 mM of metformin and 0 mM of cisplatin. Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation (n = 3). The means between independent two groups are compared by Student t-test (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001)