Expression of mir-34c-5p and mir-150-5p in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and up-regulated expression after invasion and apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells*

Abstract

Abstract Objective MiRNAs are closely related to tumors, and we hypothesized there is specific miR expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We intended to investigate the expression of mir-34c-5p and mir-150-5p in NPC and to investigate the effects of mir-34c-5p and mir-150-5p on apoptosis and invasion following up-regulated expression in HNE1 NPC cells. Methods MiR-34c-5p and miR-150-5p expression levels in 30 individual cases of NPC and nasopharyngitis were detected with gene chip and qRT-PCR techniques. miR-34c-5p and miR-150-5p were transfected into the NPC cell line HNE1 via liposomes. Their expression levels were detected with qRT-PCR, apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry, and invasion ability was assessed via Transwell migration assay. Results MiR-150-5p expression levels in NPC and nasopharyngitis were 0.165 ± 0.092 and 1.062 ± 0.280 respectively, and miR-34c-5p expression levels in NPC and nasopharyngitis were 0.417 ± 0.220 and 1.385 ± 0.739, respectively, which indicated miR-34c-5p and miR-150-5p were weakly expressed in NPC. Apoptosis rates in HNE1 cells transfected by miR-34c-5p and miR-150-5p were increased, by 12.7% and 7.6%, respectively, which were significantly higher compared to blank control (3.9%). The Transwell assay demonstrated that invasive HNE1 cell counts were 32.00 ± 2.00 and 28.33 ± 2.08, respectively, compared to 60.66 ± 8.50 in the blank control (P < 0.001). Conclusion MiR-34c-5p and miR-150-5p are lowly expressed in NPC, and their down-regulation may be associated with NPC.