miR-125b targets transcripts encoding enzymes and regulators of cell metabolism. (A) Luciferase assays showing miR-125b effects on the expression of luciferase constructs containing the indicated 3′-UTR in HEK-293 cells. Values represent mean ± SD (n = 4). P values (Student t test) are given for miR-125b versus control. (B) The effects of miR-125b and of an antisense miR-125b inhibitory RNA (125b-I) on the expression of the indicated enzymes and factors in MEC2 cells were analyzed on Western blots. A representative normalizer (αTub, ie, α-tubulin) is shown. (C) The relative levels of the indicated transcripts in MEC2 and DAUDI cell lines were determined by qRT-PCRs run in triplicate from 3 different cDNAs. Values represent mean ± SD (n = 3). * and **, DAUDI significantly different from MEC2. *P < .05, **P < .027. (D) The relative levels of the indicated enzymes and factors in cell lines of different origins were assessed on Western blots. miR-125b relative expression levels (miR-125b R.E.) are shown underneath the name of the cell lines, with THP-1 cells used as a reference.