miR-208-3p promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation and invasion through regulating ARID2 expression

Exp Cell Res. 2015 Aug 15;336(2):232-41. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2015.07.008. Epub 2015 Jul 10.

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression at post-transcriptional level. miRNA dysregulation plays a causal role in cancer progression. In this study, miR-208-3p was highly expressed and directly repressed ARID2 expression. As a result, ARID2 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was decreased. In vitro, miR-208-3p down-regulation and ARID2 over-expression elicited similar inhibitory effects on HCC cell proliferation and invasion. In vivo test results revealed that miR-208-3p down-regulation inhibited HCC tumorigenesis in Hep3B cells. Moreover, ARID2 was possibly a downstream element of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFβ1)/miR-208-3p/ARID2 regulatory pathway. These findings suggested that miR-208-3p up-regulation is associated with HCC cell progression and may provide a new target for liver cancer treatment.

Keywords: ARID2; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Invasion; Proliferation; miR-208-3p.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Down-Regulation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Hep G2 Cells
  • Humans
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • MicroRNAs / biosynthesis
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / genetics*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / genetics
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • ARID2 protein, human
  • MIRN208 microRNA, human
  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1