miR-125b-5p inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma via targeting TXNRD1.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1) is an antioxidant enzyme reportedly overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the detailed function and mechanisms of TXNRD1 in HCC remain obscure. In this study, we investigated the miR-125b-5p-specific regulation of TXNRD1 levels and its effect on HCC cells.

METHODS:

We detected miR-125b-5p levels in human HCC tissue samples through quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and in vitro experiments were employed to investigate the effect of miR-125b-5p on HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Additionally, we examined miR-125b-5p-mediated changes in TXNRD1 levels by qRT-PCR and western blotting, and a dual luciferase-reporter assay was conducted to confirm direct targeting of the 3' untranslated region of TXNRD1 mRNA by miR-125b-5p.

RESULTS:

miR-125b-5p expression was reduced in HCC tissues relative to that in matched para-carcinoma tissues; this finding was verified in HCC cohorts from the Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas. Additionally, low miR-125b-5p expression was associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients, and gene-set enrichment analysis indicated that miR-125b-5p levels were associated with HCC proliferation and metastasis. As predicted, overexpressing miR-125b-5p restrained the proliferation, migration, and invasion of Huh7 and SK-Hep-1 cells and forced expression of the miR-125b-5p-downregulated TXNRD1 mRNA and protein levels in HCC cells. Moreover, dual luciferase-reporter assays revealed that miR-125b-5p targets TXNRD1 to directly regulate its expression, whereas TXNRD1 overexpression abolishes the inhibitory effect of miR-125b-5p on HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results demonstrated miR-125b-5p as a tumor suppressor in HCC through its inhibition of TXNRD1, thereby suggesting it as a potential target for the clinical treatment of HCC.

• Authors: Shengni Hua, Yingyao Quan, Meixiao Zhan, Huaxin Liao, Yong Li, Ligong Lu
• Journal: Cancer cell international (Cancer Cell Int) Vol. 19 Pg. 203 ( 2019) ISSN: 1475-2867 [Print] England
• PMID: 31384178 (Publication Type: Journal Article)