Effects of miR-124 on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Thyroid Cancer Cells by Regulating Notch1 Pathway

Abstract

To discuss the influences of miR-124 on the proliferation and apoptosis of thyroid cancer cells by regulating Notch1 pathway. The TCGA database was used to analyze the effect of miR-124 expression on survival prognosis of patients with thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer cell line BC-PAP was applied as a tool cell, the effects of miR-124 upregulation on proliferation and apoptotic functions were examined. The miR-124 target genes were searched through the miRBase database and verified by double luciferase reporter gene assay, cell function changes were observed after transfection with Notch1 pathway inhibitor IMR-1. By analyzing the TCGA database, we found that miR-124 had a significant effect on the survival prognosis of patients with thyroid cancer (HR = 0.12, p = 0 00066). After transfection of miR-124 mimics, the expression of miR-124 in BC-PAP cells increased, which significantly inhibited the growth of thyroid cancer cells (p < 0 05) and notably promoted cell apoptosis (p < 0 05). miRBase predicts that the target gene of miR-124 is Notch1, and the double luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify that miR-124 and Notch1 do have binding sites and can bind to each other. miR-124 has a regulatory effect on Notch1. Notch1 expression was significantly reduced after miR-124 mimic transfection, while Notch1 expression was significantly increased after transfection with miR-124 inhibitor, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0 05). Transfection of miR-124 mimics inhibited the proliferation of thyroid cancer cells, after Notch1 pathway inhibitor IMR-1 was added, this inhibitory effect was distinctively recovered (p < 0 05). miR-124 could regulate Notch1 pathway, thus significantly affects the proliferation and apoptosis of thyroid cancer cells.