Sevoflurane Inhibits Growth and Metastasis of Cervical Cancer Through Up-Regulating miR-203 by Targeting Tumor Protein Translationally Controlled 1

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is a type of malignancy with high incidence and high mortality in women all over the world. Recent findings revealed the role of sevoflurane in the inhibition of development of various cancer types. This study aimed to explore whether sevoflurane could suppress cells proliferation and metastasis through adjusting miR-203 expression in cervical cancer. Methods: The effects of sevoflurane on HeLa cell viability was assessed using CCK-8 assay. miR-203 level in Hela cells was determined by qRT-PCR. In addition, cells apoptosis, migration and invasion were evaluated using flow cytometry and transwell analysis respectively after sevoflurane treatment or miR-203 expression changes. Bioinformatics software (TargetScan) was used to predict the potential target genes for miR-203 and the prediction was validated using dual-luciferase reporter system. Results: Sevoflurane effectively inhibited cell viability, metastasis and stimulated apoptosis in cervical cancer. miR-203 demonstrated a low expression in cervical cancer tissues and cells and sevoflurane significantly up-regulated miR-203 expression in cervical cancer cells. Upregulation of miR-203 significantly suppressed cell growth and metastasis and induced apoptosis, while down-regulation of miR-203 presented the opposite effects in cervical cancer cells. In addition, the inhibitory effects of sevoflurane were eliminated by down-regulating miR-203 in cervical cancer cells. In addition, TPT1 was confirmed as a target gene for miR-203. Conclusion: Sevoflurane inhibited cervical cancer cells viability and metastasis through up-regulation of miR-203 expression by targeting TPT1.