Western blot showed that the expression of ZEB1 was significantly down-regulated after the depletion of MAPKAPK5-AS1 as against the control group, whereas the transfection of miR-429 inhibitors abolished the effects in HCC cells and miR-429 mimic could reverse the effects of MAPKAPK5-AS1 overexpression on ZEB1 expression in L02 cells (Fig. 5D). This evidence concerns the gene ZEB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.