Figure 3. Effect of miR-221 in cell proliferation. A: β-catenin protein and miR-221 expression in pterygium cell line (PECs) analyzed with western blot and real-time reverse transcription (RT)–PCR. The PECs were cultured from five patients. B: MiR-221 and p27Kip1 mRNA expression in PECs treated with the miR-221 inhibitor in miR-221 high expressed PECs 1 cells and mimic-miR-221 in miR-221 low expressed PECs 3 cells. C: Cell proliferation ability of PECs decreased or increased after transfection of miR-221 inhibitor in miR-221 high expressed PECs 1 cells or mimic-miR-221 in miR-221 low expressed PECs 3 cells. NC: negative control, cells not treated with miR-221 inhibitor or mimic-miR-221.