miR-485-5p inhibits viability and migration and invasion abilities of hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells by targeting SOX5

AIM: To investigate the effects of microRNA-485-5p (miR-485-5p) on the viability, migration and invasion abilities of hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The expression levels of sex determining region Y-box 5 (SOX5) mRNA and miR-485-5p in the hepatocellular carcinoma Hep3B cells were detected by RT-qPCR with normal hepatocyte THLE-3 as control. Western blot was used to measure the expression levels of SOX5, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Ki67, cyclin D1 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). The viability of Hep3B cells was measured by MTT assay. The migration and invasion abilities of the Hep3B cells were detected by Transwell assay. Dual-luciferase reporter assay system was applied to verify the relationship between miR-485-5p and SOX5. RESULTS: Compared with the control cells, the expression level of miR-485-5p was decreased in hepatocellular carcinoma cells Hep3B, Huh7 and HCCLM3 (P<0.05), while the expression of SOX5 at mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). Over-expression of miR-485-5p inhibited the viability, migration and invasion of Hep3B cells. miR-485-5p targeted the 3′-UTR of SOX5 and negatively regulated the expression of SOX5. Knocking-down of SOX5 expression inhibited the viability, migration and invasion of Hep3B cells. Over-expression of SOX5 partially reversed the inhibitory effect of miR-485-5p over-expression on the viability, migration and invasion of Hep3B cells. CONCLUSION: miR-485-5p inhibits the viability, migration and invasion of Hep3B cells by targeting SOX5 gene. miR-485-5p is a potential molecular target for hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Regulatory effect of miR-214-5p on myocardial injury and immune response in ischemia-reperfusion rats by targeting PAK4

AIM: To investigate the effect of microRNA-214-5p (miR-214-5p) on myocardial injury and immune response in rats with ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) by targeting p21-activated protein kinase 4 (PAK4). METHODS: The rats were divided into sham group, I/R group, Ad-Scramble group, and Ad-miR-214 group (n=9). Adenovirus was injected into 6 different sites on the anterior wall of the left ventricle of the rats. Four days later, the I/R model was constructed by suturing the left anterior descending coronary artery. The expression level of miR-214 was detected by RT-qPCR. Myocardial injury was observed by HE staining. The levels of heart damage markers (CK-MB, Mb, and cTnI) and inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α) were measured by ELISA. The rate of cardiomyocyte apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The content of MDA and the activity of SOD were detected by commercially available kits. Target genes were predicted by genetic software and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The protein levels of caspase-3, caspase-9, Bcl-2, Bax, PAK4, p-Akt and p-mTOR were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: miR-214 was down-regulated in the cardiomyocytes of I/R rats (P<0.01). Over-expression of miR-214-5p attenuated myocardial injury in the I/R rats, down-regulated the expression of CK-MB, Mb and cTnI, decreased the apoptotic rate of cardiomyocytes, up-regulated the expression of Bcl-2, down-regulated Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression, increased SOD activity, and decreased the content of MDA, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α (P<0.01). The binding sites of miR-214-5p and PAK4 were pre-sent in the 3’-UTR, and over-expression of miR-214-5p up-regulated the protein levels of PAK4, p-Akt and p-mTOR (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: miR-214-5p over-expression attenuates myocardial injury in I/R rats by targeting PAK4, inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation, and activates the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway.     

Effect of miR-23b-3p on viability and apoptosis of rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts by targeting XIAP

AIM:To investigate the effect of microRNA-23b-3p (miR-23b-3p) on the viability and apoptosis of rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts by targeting X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP). METHODS:The expression of miR-23b-3p and XIAP was detected by RT-qPCR. The TargetScan was used to predict the targeting regulatory relation between miR-23b-3p and XIAP, and then the regulatory relation was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. After the miR-23b-3p mimic and inhibitor were transfected into the cells, the expression of miR-23b-3p and XIAP was detect by RT-qPCR. The effect of miR-23b-3p on the viability and apoptosis was measured by CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. The protein expression levels of Ki67 and Bcl-2 were determined by Western blot. RESULTS:The expression level of miR-23b-3p was down-regulated significantly (P<0.05), and XIAP was up-regulated significantly in rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts (P<0.05). The miR-23b-3p mimic significantly inhibited XIAP expression and the cell viability, promoted the apoptosis, and down-regulated the expression of Ki67 and Bcl-2 (P<0.05). The effects of miR-23b-3p inhibitor were the opposite. CONCLUSION:miR-23b-3p inhibits the viability and promotes apoptosis of rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblasts by targeting XIAP.     

MicroRNA-200a affects malignant biological behaviors of breast cancer cells by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition

AIM: To investigate the effect of microRNA-200a (miR-200a) on the malignant biological beha-viors of breast cancer cells and its regulatory mechanism. METHODS: The expression of miR-200a in human breast can-cer cell lines MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7, and normal human mammary epithelial cell line MCF-10A was detected by RT-qPCR. CCK-8 assay was used to detect the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells after transfection with miR-200a mimic or miR-200a inhibitor. Flow cytometry method and Transwell assay were used to detect the apoptosis and invasive ability of MDA-MB-231 cells after transfection with miR-200a mimic or miR-200a inhibitor. The expression of SIP1, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Snail, Twist, ZEB1 and ZEB2 at mRNA and protein levels was determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with MCF-10A cells, the lowest expression of miR-200a was observed in the MDA-MB-231 cells (P<0.05). Over-expression of miR-200a attenuated the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells (P<0.05), increased apoptosis (P<0.05) and decreased the invasion ability (P<0.05). The expression of SIP1, N-cadherin, Snail, Twist, ZEB1 and ZEB2 at mRNA and protein levels was also significantly down-regulated, while the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin was significantly increased (P<0.05). Transfection with miR-200a inhibitor reversed the above results. CONCLUSION: Up-regulation of miR-200a inhibits the viability and invasion ability of MDA-MB-231 cells and promotes the apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells. miR-200a may regulate the biological behaviors of breast cancer by inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition.     

Effects of miR-337 targeting p53 expression on autophagy and migration ability of colon cancer cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of microRNA-337 (miR-337) on the autophagy and migration ability of colon cancer cells, and to explore its possible mechanism involving targeting p53 expression. METHODS: The me-thod of immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein expression of beclin-1, LC3B and p53 in colon cancer tissues. The correlations between the protein expression of beclin-1/LC3B and clinicopathological features, and the correlations between the protein expression of p53 and beclin-1/LC3B were analyzed. After knock-down of p53 expression by small interfering RNA, the formation of autophagiosomes was observed under electron microscope in colon cancer cell line HCT116, and the protein expression of beclin-1 and LC3B was determined by Western blot. The miRNAs targeting p53 were predicted and screened by bioinformatics, and their expression in HCT116 cells was verified by RT-qPCR. Luciferase reporter assay was used to detect the regulatory effect of miR-337 on p53 gene. The protein expression of p53, beclin-1 and LC3B was determined by Western blot, and the migration ability of HCT116 cells after miR-337 over-expression was detected by Transwell assay. RESULTS: The protein expression of beclin-1 and LC3B in the colon cancer tissues was decreased, which was significantly related to the occurrence, development, invasion and metastasis of colon cancer. The expression of p53 was increased in the colon cancer tissues, which was negatively correlated with the protein expression of beclin-1 and LC3B. Knock-down of p53 gene expression increased the protein expression of beclin-1 and LC3B (P<0.05). Over-expression of miR-337 down-regulated the expression of p53, up-regulated the protein expression of beclin-1 and LC3B, and decreased the migration ability of HCT116 cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: miR-337 promotes autophagy and inhibits migration ability of colon cancer cells, and the mechanism may be related to targeted inhibition of p53 expression.     

Effects of microRNA-483-3p on human glioma cells

AIM:To investigate the effects of microRNA (miRNA)-483-3p on the growth and migration of human glioma cell line A172 and its potential mechanisms.METHODS:The abundance of miRNA-483-3p in human embryonic kidney 293 cells and different human glioma cell lines (A172,U251 and SHG44) was measured by RT-qPCR.After down-regulation of miRNA-483-3p by transfection of inhibitor in the A172 cells,the cell viability,cell cycle distribution and cell migration were detected by CCK-8 assay,flow cytometry and Transwell assay,respectively.Furthermore,the protein levels of cell cycle-related molecules and epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers were measured by Western blot.Luciferase reporter assay was used to predict and verify the target gene of miRNA-483-3p.RESULTS:miRNA-483-3p was highly expressed in human glioma cells.Knockdown of miRNA-483-3p inhibited A172 cell viability,arrested cell cycle and decreased cell migration rate.Furthermore,the protein levels of cyclin D1,cyclin-dependent kinase 4,phoshorylated retinoblastoma protein,N-cadherin and vimentin were significantly decreased after knockdown of miRNA-483-3p,accompanied with the up-regulation of E-cadherin and β-catenin protein expression.Luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that Smad4 was a potential target gene of miRNA-483-3p.Down-regulation of Smad4 in the A172 cells transfected with miRNA-483-3p inhibitor partially reversed the effect of miRNA-483-3p on cell viability and migration.CONCLUSION:Knockdown of miRNA-483-3p restrains the growth and migration of A172 cells by targeting Smad4.     

MicroRNA-146a promotes apoptosis of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells by targeting TAK1

AIM: To explore the effect of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) on apoptosis of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells and the underluing mechanism. METHODS: miR-146a mimic (up-regulated miR-146a expression) and miR-146a inhibitor (down-regulated miR-146a expression) were transfected into the SGC-7901 cells by liposome method. At the same time, miRNA nonsense sequence transfection group as the negative control group (NC group) was set up. RT-qPCR was used to evaluate the levels of miR-146a in the SGC-7901 cells after transfection. The effects of miR-146a on the cell apoptosis and growth were assessed by flow cytometry analysis and CCK-8 assay, respectively. The effect of over-expression or knockdown of miR-146a on transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling was evaluated by RT-qPCR and Western blot. RESULTS: miR-146a modulated apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells. Over-expression of miR-146a significantly increased apoptosis, whereas knockdown of miR-146a inhibited the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells. The expression of TAK1 at mRNA and protein levels was significantly decreased when miR-146a mimic was transfected into the SGC-7901 cells (P<0.05). On the contrast, the expression of TAK1 at mRNA and protein were significantly higher in miR-146a inhibitor transfection group than that in NC group (P<0.05), suggesting that miR-146a negatively regulated TAK1 expression. Moreover, knockdown of TAK1 enhanced the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells (P<0.01), while over-expression of TAK1 inhibited the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells(P<0.01). Additionally, both over-expression of miR-146a and knockdown of TAK1 led to a prominent increase in the expression of NF-κB inhibitor protein alpha (IκBα) and a significat decrease in B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) level in the SGC-7901 cells. CONCLUSION: miR-146a significantly promotes apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells by inhibition of NF-κB pathway via targeting TAK1.     

Estradiol promotes growth of decidua derived mesenchymal stem cells by inhibiting miR-16 via estrogen receptor α

AIM: To study the effect of estradiol (E₂) on the viability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from the decidua of the placenta by regulating the expression of microRNA-16 (miR-16). METHODS: The concentration of E₂ in the peripheral blood of normal pregnant women and the patients with severe preeclampsia (PE) was measured. The effects of E₂ at different concentrations on the viability of MSCs were analyzed. The effect of E₂ at different concentrations on the expression of miR-16 in the MSCs was detected, and which estrogen receptor (ER) mediated the regulatory effect of E₂ on miR-16 expression was determined. RESULTS: The concentration of E₂ in peripheral blood of the patients with severe PE was significantly decreased (P<0.01). After treatment with E₂ at 5, 10 and 100 nmol/L for 48 h, the viability of MSCs was increased (P<0.05). The expression level of miR-16 was down-regulated in the MSCs treated with E₂ at 5, 10 and 100 nmol/L for 12 h. After treatment with E₂ at 10 nmol/L for different time (0 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h and 24 h), the expression level of miR-16 in the MSCs showed a clear time-dependent downward trend. E₂ significantly promoted the viability of MSCs, and the cell viability was significantly reversed after miR-16 pretreatment. Pretreatment with estrogen receptor antagonists ICI 182780 and tamoxifen for 6 h attenuated the inhibitory effect of E₂ on miR-16 expression. Only ERα agonist propyl pyrazole triol significantly inhibited the expression of miR-16 in MSCs but ERβ agonist diarylpropionitrile did not. CONCLUSION: E₂ promotes the growth of decidua-derived MSCs by inhibiting miR-16 via ERα.     

Effect of microRNA-7 knockdown on ConA-induced acute liver injury in mice

AIM: To study the effect of microRNA-7 (miR-7) knockdown (KD) on concanavalin A (ConA)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in mice.METHODS: Wild type (WT) mice and miR-7KD mice were received ConA (30 mg/kg) to induced acute liver injury model by intraperitoneal injection, and the morphological changes, liver weight and weight index were measured 48 h later. The pathological changes of the liver tissues were observed by HE staining. The levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), IL-4 and IFN-γ were detected by ELISA. The proportional changes of CD4⁺ T cells and the relative levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ were analyzed by flow cytometry.RESULTS: The color of the liver tissue became lighter, and the weight and weight index were changed significantly in miR-7KD mice compared with control group (P<0.05). HE staining showed that the inflammatory cell infiltration was increased in the liver of miR-7KD mice. Moreover, the level of serum ALT was significantly increased (P<0.05). The serum level of IFN-γ elevated significantly (P<0.01), while the IL-4 levels decreased significantly (P<0.01) in the serum of miR-7KD mice. Furthermore, the proportion of CD4⁺ T cells and relative IFN-γ cells increased obviously (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: miR-7 knockdown promotes the pathogenesis of the ConA-induced acute liver injury in mice.