Effect of microRNA-221 targeting HMBOX1 on biological function of gastric cancer cells

Abstract

Objective To explore the target of microRNA (miRNA, miR)-221p and its effect on biological function of gastric cancer cells. Methods Bioinformatics was used to predict the possible targets of miR-221, and plenti-miR-221 overexpression vector was constructed. Lentiviruses were packaged. MiR-221 stable expression cell line (observation group) and control cell line (control group) was established by lentiviruses infecting. The expression of miR-221 target gene protein in control and observation groups were analyzed by Western blotting. The proliferation ability in control and observation groups was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). The invasive ability was analyzed by Transwell in control and observation groups. The apoptosis level of control and observation groups was analyzed by flow cytometry. The tumor growth and metastasis of the control group and the observation group were analyzed. Results Bioinformatics analysis showed that the target gene of miR-221 was HMBOX1. Compared with the control group (1.12±0.23), the expression of HMBOX1 protein in the observation group (0.32±0.12) was significantly decreased (t=3.976, P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the proliferation ability of cells in the observation group increased significantly (F=3.102, P<0.01). Transwell quantitative analysis showed that the invasive ability of cells in the observation group [(125.43±15.32) cells] was significantly higher than that in the control group [(57.40±9.81) cells], and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.190, P<0.01). The level of apoptosis in the observation group [(12.78±3.56)%] was significantly lower than that in the control group [(25.43±7.54)%, t=2.918, P<0.01]. The growth rate of cells in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (F=3.012, P<0.01). The number of intraperitoneal metastatic lesions in the observation group (15.26±3.29) was significantly higher than that in the control group (6.19±2.01) (t=2.991, P<0.01). Conclusion MiR-221 targeting HMBOX1, promote the proliferation and invasion of tumor cells, reduce cell apoptosis, and promote the occurrence and metastasis of tumor. Key words: MicroRNA-221; HMBOX1; Proliferation; Apoptosis; Metastasis