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Updated: Jun 18, 2026
An In-House-Built and Light-Emitting-Diode-Based Photodynamic Therapy Device for Enhancing Verteporfin Cytotoxicity in a 2D Cell Culture Model
Published on: January 13, 2023
Photodynamic therapy induces microRNA-210 and -296 expression in HeLa cells
1Frontier Research Base for Global Young Researchers, Frontier Research Center, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan. kushibiki@see.eng.osaka-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
Apoptosis-related microRNAs (miRNAs), the expression levels of which were observed to increase after photodynamic therapy (PDT), were identified as markers of PDT efficacy. miRNAs form a class of small endogenous RNAs that play important regulatory roles by targeting mRNA for cleavage or translational repression. miRNAs contribute to diverse biological processes, including development, cell growth, apoptosis, and hematopoiesis, which suggests a role in cancer development. However, no previous reports have described a relationship between apoptosis and miRNA expression after PDT. In this study, apoptosis-related miRNA levels were characterized by real-time PCR after PDT in HeLa cells. miR-210 and miR-296 expression levels increased 1 hour after PDT, although the other apoptosis-related miRNA (miR-7, miR-148a, miR-204, and miR-216) expression levels were unchanged. Since miR-210 is the most prominent miRNA consistently stimulated under hypoxic conditions and VEGF is capable of increasing miR-296 expression levels, these data suggest that hypoxia induced by PDT induces miR-210 expression, followed by an increase of VEGF expression and miR-296 expression. These results constitute the first report of an analysis of miRNA expression after PDT using talaporfin sodium as a photosensitizer, demonstrating that miR-210 and miR-296 expression levels are markers of PDT efficacy in HeLa cells.
Insights
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy can be monitored by measuring apoptosis-related microRNAs (miRNAs). This study found that miR-210 and miR-296 levels increased after PDT in HeLa cells, suggesting their potential as biomarkers.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
- Cancer Research
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNAs regulating gene expression and involved in various biological processes, including apoptosis.
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a cancer treatment modality.
- The relationship between apoptosis-related miRNA expression and PDT efficacy was previously unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of apoptosis-related miRNAs following PDT in HeLa cells.
- To identify potential miRNA biomarkers for PDT efficacy.
Main Methods:
- HeLa cells were treated with talaporfin sodium and exposed to PDT.
- Apoptosis-related miRNA levels were quantified using real-time PCR at 1 hour post-PDT.
Main Results:
- Expression of miR-210 and miR-296 significantly increased 1 hour after PDT.
- Expression of other tested apoptosis-related miRNAs (miR-7, miR-148a, miR-204, miR-216) remained unchanged.
- PDT-induced hypoxia is suggested to upregulate miR-210, subsequently increasing VEGF and miR-296 expression.
Conclusions:
- miR-210 and miR-296 are upregulated following PDT in HeLa cells.
- These miRNAs serve as potential biomarkers for assessing PDT efficacy.
- This study provides the first analysis of miRNA expression post-PDT using talaporfin sodium.
