[The relationship between microRNA-18 and BTG2 in the carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To study the difference of microRNA expression between HepG2 cells and L02 cells, and to identify the target genes of microRNA-18 (miR-18).


METHODS
The differentially expressed miRNAs between HepG2 cells and L02 cells were identified by miRNA chip. Target genes of miR-18 were predicted bioinformatically. Furthermore, the expression of B-cell translocation gene 2 (BTG2), a putative target gene of miR-18, was analyzed in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and the surrounding non-cancerous tissues by RT-PCR and northern blot.


RESULTS
miR-18 was over-expressed in HepG2 cells compared to L02 cells. Altogether 609 genes, including genes involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and transcriptional regulation, are identified as putative miR-18 targets. The mRNA level of BTG2 was much lower in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues than in the corresponding non-cancerous tissues.


CONCLUSIONS
miR-18 is over-expressed in HepG2 cells compared to L02 cells, and it may negatively regulate the expression of BTG2, a tumor suppressor gene.
Li
Qiong
Q
Cancer Center, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Minitary Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China.
Wang
Ge
G
Zhang
Zhi-Min
ZM
D017209:Apoptosis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C070114:BTG2 protein, human