Effect of miR-375 on viability,cell cycle and apoptosis of colon cancer HCT116 cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of microRNA-375 (miR-375) on the viability, cell cycle and apoptosis of HCT116 cells.METHODS: The expression of miR-375 in different colorectal cancer cell lines was detected by real-time PCR. The miR-375 mimics was transfected into HCT116 cells by Lipofectamine^TM 2000. The mRNA expression of miR-375 and AEG-1 was detected by real-time PCR. The HCT116 cell viability was detected by MTT assay. The changes of apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were analyzed by flow cytometry.RESULTS: Real-time PCR showed that miR-375 expression was the lowest in HCT116 among 4 colorectal cancer cell lines. The expression level of miR-375 significantly increased in miR-375 mimics group compared with that in the negative control group. The high expression level of miR-375 significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of AEG-1. After transfection with miR-375 mimics, the cell viability was inhibited, the apoptotic rate was increased, the proportion of G₁-stage cells was increased, and the proportion of S-stage cells was decreased.CONCLUSION: miR-375 inhibits the viability, mediates the cell cycle arrest and promotes the apoptosis of colon cancer HCT116 cells. miR-375 may act as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer by inhibiting AEG-1.