title: MicroRNA-144 regulates proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis of cells in malignant solitary pulmonary nodule via zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was to investigate the expression of microRNA (miR)-144 in malignant solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) tissues and peripheral blood, as well as the biological function of miR-144 in the occurrence and development of lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 39 malignant and 30 benign SPN patients were included. The expression of miR-144 was examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify the clinical value of miR-144 in the early diagnosis of malignant SPN. MTT assay was performed to determine A549 cell proliferation and Transwell assay was used to detect changes in A549 cell invasion and migration ability. Flow cytometry was performed to monitor cell apoptosis, while Western blotting assay was used to measure protein expression levels. At last, dual-luciferase reporter assay was employed to test whether miR-144 regulates zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) gene expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of miR-144 was reduced in patients with malignant SPN. miR-144 had diagnostic value for malignant SPN. Proliferation of A549 cells was inhibited by miR-144. Invasion ability of A549 cells was reduced by miR-144. Apoptosis of A549 cells was promoted by miR-144. miR-144 induced A549 cell apoptosis by targeting ZEB1 protein. miR-144 regulated the expression of ZEB1 by interacting with its 3'-UTR region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expression of miR-144 is reduced in malignant SPN tissues and peripheral blood, being of clinical value in the diagnosis of malignant SPN. miR-144 promotes the apoptosis of lung cancer cells, and inhibits the proliferation, invasion and migration of lung cancer by regulating ZEB1 gene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army Beijing 100853, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Guizhi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Center of Basic Medical Sciences, Navy General Hospital of People's Liberation Army Beijing 100048, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Huaijie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army Beijing 100853, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiangqun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fang
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017209:Apoptosis; D001665:Binding Sites; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D015398:Signal Transduction; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection; D000071799:Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C554293:MIRN144 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D014157:Transcription Factors; C486307:ZEB1 protein, human; D000071799:Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1
keywords: Solitary pulmonary nodule; dual-luciferase reporter assay; microRNA-144; zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1