MicroRNA-126 enhances radiosensitivity of SGC-7901 cells via targeting inhibition of EZH2

AIM: To investigate the molecular biological mechanisms by which microRNA-126 (miR-126) enhances the radiosensitivity of gastric cancer cells. METHODS: SGC-7901 cells were cultured in vitro. In order to over-express miR-126 in SGC-7901 cells, miR-126 mimic was transfected. The mRNA and protein levels of enhancer of zeste ho-molog 2 (EZH2) were detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot, respectively. The targeting relationship between miR-126 and EZH2 was determined by dual-luciferase reporter assay. To estimate the effect of EZH2 on miR-126-enhanced radiosensitivity of the SGC-7901 cells, the pcDNA3.1-EZH2 vector was also co-transfected with miR-126 mimic, and then CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were used to detect the viability and apoptotic rate of the cells after radiation. RESULTS: Over-expression of miR-126 significantly inhibited the expression of EZH2 in SGC-7901 cells both at protein and mRNA levels (P<0.05). A direct targeting relationship between miR-126 and EZH2 was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Compared with the cells only transfected with miR-126 mimic, co-transfection of pcDNA3.1-EZH2 with miR-126 mimic increased the viability but reduced the apoptosis of the cells treated by radiation (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Targeting inhibition of EZH2 may be one of the mechanisms by which miR-126 enhances the radiosensitivity of gastric cancer cells.