title: MiR-30a-5p suppresses cell growth and enhances apoptosis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells via targeting AEG-1.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MiR-30a-5p has been reported to play vital roles in the carcinogenesis and progression of various malignancies via different molecular mechanisms. However, the role and target genes of miR-30a-5p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain still unclear. In silico analysis finds that there are complementary sequences between the 3'-untrasnlated region of astrocyte elevated gene 1 (AEG-1) and miR-30a-5p. Herein, we investigated the biological function of miR-30a-5p, as well as the potential molecular mechanism via targeting AEG-1 in HCC cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  MiR-30a-5p inhibitor, miR-30a-5p mimic, AEG-1 siRNAs, as well as their negative controls were transfected into HCC cell lines HepG2, SMMC-7221, HepB3 and SNU449. Then, the in vitro influence and mechanism of miR-30a-5p on cell viability, proliferation, caspase-3/7 activity and apoptosis were studied, as assessed by different methods, including spectrophotometry, fluorimetry, fluorescence microscopy of Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide double chromatin staining, western blot and dual luciferase reporter assay, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MiR-30a-5p mimic markedly inhibited cell growth, also induced caspase-3/7 activity and apoptosis in all four HCC cell lines tested. The strongest effect was observed in HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells. However, this effect was slightly weaker than that of AEG-1 siRNAs. Transfection of miR-30a-5p mimic led to a markedly reduced AEG-1 protein level and further dual luciferase reporter assay confirmed that AEG-1 was one of the target genes of miR-30a-5p in HCC cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MiR-30a-5p may play an essential role in the cell growth and apoptosis of HCC cells, partially via targeting AEG-1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Rongquan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Lihua
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Children Rehabilitation Medicine, Guangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaomiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University Nanning, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xinggu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fanglin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaona
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yihuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yuzhuang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Tingqing
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yiwu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University Nanning, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D017209:Apoptosis; D001665:Binding Sites; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D053179:Caspase 7 / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C546086:MIRN30b microRNA, human; C483039:MTDH protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; C505520:CASP7 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D053179:Caspase 7
keywords: AEG-1; apoptosis; caspase; cell growth; hepatocellular carcinoma; miR-30a-5p