Fig. 5

WNT2B was verified as a target for miR-15b-5p in HMCs. a Complementary binding sites between WNT2B and miR-15b-5p were predicted using the starBase database. b Dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed the luciferase activity in HMCs cotransfected with miR-15b-5p or miR-NC and luciferase vectors containing WNT2B 3′UTR-WT or WNT2B 3′UTR-MUT. c QRT-PCR exhibited the expression of WNT2B mRNA in serum of 34 DN patients and 34 healthy controls, and GADPH was selected as an internal control. d Pearson’s correlation analysis displayed the correlation between WNT2B mRNA and miR-15b-5p in serum of DN patients. e Western blotting exhibited the level of WNT2B protein in HG-induced HMCs, and GADPH was selected as an internal control. The experiments were repeated 3 times, and data were presented as mean ± standard deviation. ***P < 0.001 and ****P < 0.0001