Decreased expression of microRNA-223 promotes cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling pathway

Zhang,Cheng; Zhang,Jiamin

doi:10.3892/etm.2018.5929

Decreased expression of microRNA-223 promotes cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling pathway

Authors:
- Cheng Zhang
- Jiamin Zhang
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Affiliations: Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, P.R. China, Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Jinhua People's Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang 321000, P.R. China
Published online on: March 6, 2018 https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.5929
Pages: 4325-4331
Copyright: © Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most harmful types of cancer. Previous studies have demonstrated that microRNA (miR)-223 is downregulated in the serum and tumor tissue of patients with HCC. The present study aimed to investigate the regulatory role of miR‑223 on insulin‑like growth factor‑1 receptor (IGF‑1R) and downstream factors in HCC. The Hep3B cell line was transfected with miR‑223 mimic and inhibitor. Following transfection, cell proliferation was analyzed using a cell counting kit 8 assay and cellular apoptosis was assessed using flow cytometry. The expression of key molecules in the IGF‑1 signaling pathway, including IGF‑1R, protein kinase B (Akt) and extracellular signal‑regulated kinase (ERK) were determined using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that the mRNA and protein levels of IGF‑1R were decreased in cells transfected with miR‑223. Transfection with miR‑223 also decreased cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis. Expression of total Akt and ERK, and their active forms phosphorylated Akt and ERK, were also downregulated following transfection with miR‑223. By contrast, transfection with miR‑223 inhibitor did not induce any effects on Hep3B cell proliferation and apoptosis, and did not affect the expression of key molecules in the IGF‑1 pathway. Therefore, the results of the present study indicate that miR‑223 decreases the proliferation and promotes the apoptosis of HCC cells. Its molecular mechanism of action may at least partially occur via the direct regulation of IGF‑1R and indirect reduction of the downstream molecules Akt and ERK.

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