MicroRNA-125b suppressesed human liver cancer cell proliferation and metastasis by directly targeting oncogene LIN28B2.

Abstract

UNLABELLED:

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that can act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors in human cancer. Our previous study showed that miR-125b was a prognostic indicator for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but its functions and exact mechanisms in hepatic carcinogenesis are still unknown. Here we demonstrate that miR-125b suppressed HCC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, miR-125b increased p21Cip1/Waf1 expression and arrested cell cycle at G₁ to S transition. In addition, miR-125b inhibited HCC cell migration and invasion. Further studies revealed that LIN28B was a downstream target of miR-125b in HCC cells as miR-125b bound directly to the 3' untranslated region of LIN28B, thus reducing both the messenger RNA and protein levels of LIN28B. Silencing of LIN28B recapitulated the effects of miR-125b overexpression, whereas enforced expression of LIN28B reversed the suppressive effects of miR-125b.

CONCLUSION:

These findings indicate that miR-125b exerts tumor-suppressive effects in hepatic carcinogenesis through the suppression of oncogene LIN28B expression and suggest a therapeutic application of miR-125b in HCC.

• Authors: Linhui Liang, Chun-Ming Wong, Qiao Ying, Dorothy Ngo-Yin Fan, Shenglin Huang, Jie Ding, Jian Yao, Mingxia Yan, Jinjun Li, Ming Yao, Irene Oi-Lin Ng, Xianghuo He
• Journal: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) (Hepatology) Vol. 52 Issue 5 Pg. 1731-40 (Nov 2010) ISSN: 1527-3350 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20827722 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• DNA-Binding Proteins
• LIN28B protein, human
• MIRN125 microRNA, human
• MicroRNAs
• RNA, Messenger
• RNA-Binding Proteins

Topics

• Cell Cycle (drug effects)
• Cell Division (drug effects)
• Cell Movement (drug effects)
• Colony-Forming Units Assay
• DNA-Binding Proteins (antagonists & inhibitors, drug effects)
• Down-Regulation
• Flow Cytometry
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Genes, Reporter
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (genetics, pathology)
• MicroRNAs (genetics, pharmacology)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• RNA, Messenger (drug effects, genetics)
• RNA-Binding Proteins
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Transfection