All media for the human cell lines were supplemented with 10% FBS and 1% penicillin/streptomycin antibiotics. SW48, SW948 and SW480 cell lines were cultured in 100% air at 37 °C. Other cell lines were cultured under 95% air-5% CO2 at 37 °C. All cell lines were validated by STR DNA finger-printing. Experiments were carried out within 6 months after acquisition of the cell lines. In addition, mycoplasma contamination was ruled out using a PCR-based method.
HT29 and LS174T cells were transfected with miR-20a mimic and negative control (NC) or miR-20a inhibitor and inhibitor NC (inNC) respectively using Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen, USA). After 48 h transfection, these cells were harvested for further experiments. These inhibitors and activator, including C75 (inhibitor of FASN), PKI-402 (inhibitor of PI3K/mTOR), MSAB (inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin), Mycro 3 (inhibitor of Myc) and ZLN024 (activator of AMPK), were purchased from GLPBIO.