title: MiR-27a promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation through suppression of its target gene peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function as essential posttranscriptional modulators of gene expression, and are involved in a wide range of physiologic and pathologic states, including cancer. Numerous miRNAs are deregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-27a in the development of HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of MiR-27a was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide was used to examine changes in the viability of HepG2, Bel-7402, Bel-7404 hepatoma cell lines associated with up-regulation or down-regulation of miR-27a. A dual-luciferase activity assay was used to verify a target gene of miR-27a. Immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, Western blotting analysis, and cell cycle and apoptosis flow cytometric assays were used to elucidate the mechanism by which miR-27a modulates liver cancer cell proliferation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of miR-27a was signiﬁcantly increased in HCC tissues and HepG2, Bel-7402, Bel-7404 hepatoma cell lines (P < 0.05). We also found that the down-regulation of miR-27a in HepG2 cells dramatically inhibited proliferation, blocked the G1 to S cell cycle transition and induced apoptosis (P < 0.05). In addition, miR-27a directly targeted the 3'- untranslated region of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), and ectopic miR-27a expression suppressed PPAR-γ expression on the mRNA and protein levels. The rosiglitazone-induced overexpression of PPAR-γ attenuated the effect of miR-27a in HCC cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggested that miRNA-27a promoted HCC cell proliferation by regulating PPAR-γ expression. MiR-27a may provide a potential therapeutic strategy for HCC treatment.
authors.forename: Shuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bing-Yuan
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Fei
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Zhan-Hao
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.forename: Bao-Zhen
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C531388:MIRN27 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D047495:PPAR gamma
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