title: Role of microRNA-520h in 20(R)-ginsenoside-Rg3-mediated angiosuppression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ginsenoside-Rg3, the pharmacologically active component of red ginseng, has been found to inhibit tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis in various cancer models. Previously, we found that 20(R)-ginsenoside-Rg3 (Rg3) could inhibit angiogenesis. Since microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to affect many biological processes, they might play an important role in ginsenoside-mediated angiomodulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we examined the underlying mechanisms of Rg3-induced angiosuppression through modulating the miRNA expression. In the miRNA-expression profiling analysis, six miRNAs and three miRNAs were found to be up- or down-regulated in vascular-endothelial-growth-factor-induced human-umbilical-vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) after Rg3 treatment, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A computational prediction suggested that mature hsa-miR-520h (miR-520h) targets ephrin receptor (Eph) B2 and EphB4, and hence, affecting angiogenesis. The up-regulation of miR-520h after Rg3 treatment was validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, while the protein expressions of EphB2 and EphB4 were found to decrease, respectively. The mimics and inhibitors of miR-520h were transfected into HUVECs and injected into zebra-fish embryos. The results showed that overexpression of miR-520h could significantly suppress the EphB2 and EphB4 protein expression, proliferation, and tubulogenesis of HUVECs, and the subintestinal-vessel formation of the zebra fish.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results might provide further information on the mechanism of Rg3-induced angiosuppression and the involvement of miRNAs in angiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Man-Hong
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Keung
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Lai-Sheung
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Dr. Gilbert Hung Ginseng Laboratory, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Hoi-Hin
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Dr. Gilbert Hung Ginseng Laboratory, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Ricky Ngok-Shun
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Dr. Gilbert Hung Ginseng Laboratory, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
authors.forename: Patrick Ying-Kit
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Yue
keywords: anti-angiogenesis; ginsenoside-Rg3; miR-520h; microRNA