IDO1 and cervical cancer: By performing RT-qPCR and Western blot assays (P < 0.05, Fig. 2a–d), we found that after miR-218 mimics has been transfected into cervical cancer HeLa cells, the mRNA levels of miR-218 were found to be sharply upregulated and that the mRNA and protein levels of IDO1 were markedly downregulated in the Mimics group, compared with the Cntl and NC groups.