title: MiR-7 inhibits progression of hepatocarcinoma by targeting KLF-4 and promises a novel diagnostic biomarker.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  MicroRNAs are 22-24 nt non-coding RNAs that bind to the 3' UTR of target mRNAs, thereby inducing mRNA degradation or inhibiting mRNA translation. Due to their implication in the regulation of post-transcriptional processes, the role of miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been extensively studied. However, the function of miR-7 in HCC remains to be demonstrated.
  
  
  METHODS
  50 paired HCC tissues and matched peritumor tissues from patients were collected. The mRNA level of miR-7 was detected by qRT-PCR. The protein level of Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF-4) was determined by western blot. Cell proliferation and invasive ability were measured using MTT and transwell invasion assay, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We demonstrated that miR-7 was downregulated in 50 HCC tissues and the low expression of miR-7 was significantly correlate with tumour size. Moreover, overexpression of miR-7 significantly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells. Over 100 target genes of miR-7 were predicted by Targetscan, and KLF-4 was indicated as the most promising candidate. Luciferase report assay showed that KLF-4 could be silenced by miR-7, so as to restore the impairment of cell proliferation and invasion in HCC cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, we revealed a role of miR-7-KLF-4 axis in HCC cells, and the combination of both biomarkers might improve HCC diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000 Hebei China.
authors.forename: Weizhong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000 Hebei China.
authors.forename: Sanguang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000 Hebei China.
authors.forename: Yunfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000 Hebei China.
authors.forename: Zegao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050000 Hebei China.
authors.forename: Xueqing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Biomarker; Diagnosis; Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); Invasion; Proliferation; miR-7