title: HBx-induced miR-21 suppresses cell apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting interleukin-12.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) plays a key role in the initiation and progression of HBV infection‑induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Oncogenic microRNA-21 (miR-21) can be modulated by HBx protein in HCC. However, critical regulator genes in the pathway of HBx-induced miR-21 in HCC remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of HBx-induced miR-21 in the apoptosis of HCC cells. In the study, interleukin-12 (IL-12) was demonstrated as a direct target of miR-21 by dual‑luciferase report assay, and miR-21 was highly expressed in HCC cells (HepG2 and HepG2 2.2.15) compared to L02 cells, but IL-12 was weakly expressed as detected by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). Furthermore, miR-21 mimics, inhibitor, HBx-targeted siRNA, and the HBx overexpression vector (pHBx) were used to observe the regulatory effects of HBx-induced miR-21 via IL-12, and cell apoptosis was assessed. The results showed that overexpression of HBx resulted in the inhibition of IL-12. A high level of miR-21 resulted in a significant increase in proliferation and a decrease in IL-12 expression. Inhibition of miR-21 resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis and increased IL-12 expression. The results suggest that HCC cell apoptosis was suppressed at least partially through HBx-induced miR-21 by targeting IL-12.
authors: Department of Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China.
authors: Dian
authors: D
authors: Yin
authors: Department of Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China.
authors: Yilang
authors: Y
authors: Wang
authors: Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China.
authors: Wenli
authors: W
authors: Sai
authors: Department of Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China.
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China.
authors: Yajun
authors: Y
authors: Miao
authors: Department of Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China.
authors: Lili
authors: L
authors: Cao
authors: Department of Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China.
authors: Xiaolu
authors: X
authors: Zhai
authors: Department of Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China.
authors: Xiu
authors: X
authors: Feng
authors: Department of Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Nantong, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, P.R. China.
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Yang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000235:genetics; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
chemical_list: C524940:MIRN21 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D015534:Trans-Activators; D054334:Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins; C057628:hepatitis B virus X protein; D018664:Interleukin-12