MicroRNA-224 is upregulated in HepG2 cells and involved in cellular migration and invasion.
OBJECTIVE
MicroRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate the expression of their target genes. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of microRNA on biological behaviors of HepG2 cells and further analyze its characteristics.


METHODS
We detected different expression profiles of miRNAs in HepG2 and L02 cell lines by microRNA microarray. Northern blot, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, methylthiazolyl tetrazolium, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, scratch wound, transwell migration and Matrigel invasion assays and western blot were carried out to determine whether or not microRNA-224 (miR-224) can influence the biological behaviors of HepG2 cells.


RESULTS
MiR-224 was significantly upregulated in HepG2 cells. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion, but not cell cycles, were altered after changing the expression of miR-224. Taking invasion and migration as a breakthrough, a close relationship between the expression of miR-224 and its proteins such as PAK4 and MMP9, which were involved in the invasion of tumor, was found.


CONCLUSIONS
Overexpression of miR-224 was involved in the malignant phenotype of HepG2 cells, and it may be an important factor in regulating the migration and invasion of HepG2 cells.
Cancer Center, Daping Hospital & Institute of Research Institute of Field Surgery, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Qiong
Q
Li
Ge
G
Wang
Jin-Lu
JL
Shan
Zhi-Xiang
ZX
Yang
Hong-Zhong
HZ
Wang
Jin
J
Feng
Ji-Jun
JJ
Zhen
Chuan
C
Chen
Zhi-Min
ZM
Zhang
Wen
W
Xu
Xi-Zhong
XZ
Luo
Dong
D
Wang
D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005838:Genotype; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection; D015854:Up-Regulation
C546140:MIRN224 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs