title: miR-26a promoted by interferon-alpha inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation and migration by blocking EZH2.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interferon (IFN)-α has been used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we report that the IFN-α-induced microRNA-26a (miR-26a) can inhibit HCC proliferation and invasion by suppressing enhancer of zeste homologue 2 (EZH2) expression in tumor cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, the miR-26a transcription level was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR in the HCC specimens from IFN-α-treated HCC patients. Next, we transfected HepG2 cells with miR-26a mimics and miR control, and then we investigated the influence of miR-26a mimic transfection on HepG2 cell proliferation and invasion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was shown that there was increased miR-26a accompanied with downregulated EZH2 expression in the HCC specimens, and EZH2 mRNA levels were inversely correlated with miR-26a expression. There was a dose-response correlation between the IFN-α dosage and EZH2 expression. In addition, the miR-26a mimic transfection decreased the EZH2 expression level significantly in the transfected HepG2 cells and inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation and invasion effectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that miR-26a exerts growth inhibition in HCC and that its inhibitory effect is mediated briefly by blocking EZH2 expression.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Oncology, Jinan Central Hospital, Shandong University , Jinan, People's Republic of China .
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yubei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yifu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Chushu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D005260:Female; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D035683:MicroRNAs; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; C528163:MIRN26 microRNA, human; C498409:EZH2 protein, human