Figure 6. Elevation of miR-181a-5p regulated ERK-MMP pathway in ESCC through MEK1. (A) FISH was performed to identify the distribution and expression levels of miR-181a-5p in miR-181a-5p NC, miR-181a-5p mimics or inhibitor transfected ECA109 cells. The positive expression shows green fluorescence. The red arrows represent a tiny amount of fluorescence of miR-181a-5p. (B) Western blotting analysis of p-ERK1/2, p-JNK, p-P38, t-ERK1, MMP2 and MMP9 in miR-181a-5p NC, miR-181a-5p mimics or inhibitor transfected ECA109 cells. The p-ERK1/2, p-JNK, p-P38, t-ERK1, MMP2 and MMP9 protein levels were measured after co-transfection with miR-181a-5p mimics, miR-181a-5p NC or miR-181a-5p inhibitor and MEK1-OE Lentivirus in ECA109 cells. Different data were presented as mean ± S.D. (all P < 0.05).