MicroRNA-338-3p inhibits cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma by target forkhead box P4 (FOXP4).

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, non-coding RNAs, which have demonstrated to important gene regulators, and have critical roles in diverse biological processes including cancer cell proliferation. Previous studies suggested microRNA-338-3p (miR-338-3p) was down-regulated and play tumor suppressor roles in gastric cancer, colorectal carcinoma and lung cancer. However, the role of miR-338-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unclear. In this study, we analyzed the expression of miR-338-3p in HCC tissues and HCC cell lines. We find that miR-338-3p was downregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines. Then functional studies demonstrate ectopic miR-338-3p expression significantly suppressed the in vitro proliferation and colony formation of HCC cells and cause to cell cycle arrest. Using bio-informatic method and report assay we identified a novel miR-338-3p target, FOXP4 in HCC cells. Furthermore, knockdown of FOXP4 have the similar effects in HCC corrected with miR-338-3p. These findings suggest that miR-338-3p regulates survival of HCC cells partially through the downregulation of FOXP4. Therefore, targeting with the miR-338-3p/FOXP4 axis might serve as a novel therapeutic application to treat HCC patients.

• Authors: Gang Wang, Yubei Sun, Yifu He, Chushu Ji, Bing Hu, Yuping Sun
• Journal: International journal of clinical and experimental pathology (Int J Clin Exp Pathol) Vol. 8 Issue 1 Pg. 337-44 ( 2015) ISSN: 1936-2625 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25755720 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• FOXP4 protein, human
• Forkhead Transcription Factors
• MIRN338 microRNA, human
• MicroRNAs

Topics

• Aged
• Carcinoma, Hepatocellular (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (genetics)
• Down-Regulation
• Female
• Forkhead Transcription Factors (genetics, metabolism)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic (genetics)
• Humans
• Liver Neoplasms (genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• MicroRNAs (genetics)
• Middle Aged
• Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction