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Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis
Published on: March 30, 2019
microRNA expression alteration after arsenic trioxide treatment in HepG-2 cells
Xian-Zhi Meng1, Tong-Sen Zheng, Xi Chen
1Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
|December 24, 2010
Summary
Arsenic trioxide alters microRNA (miRNA) expression in liver cancer cells. MiR-29a shows therapeutic potential by inhibiting growth and inducing apoptosis, working synergistically with arsenic trioxide.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly implicated in tumor genesis and progression.
- Arsenic trioxide is an established chemotherapeutic agent in cancer therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the mechanism of arsenic trioxide treatment in liver cancer.
- To investigate the role of miR-29a in HepG-2 cells treated with arsenic trioxide.
Main Methods:
- MicroRNA (miRNA) expression profiling using microarray and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.
- Assays for cell viability, apoptosis, target prediction, and Western blot were performed.
- Luciferase reporter assay to confirm miR-29a target gene (PPM1D).
Main Results:
- Arsenic trioxide treatment altered miRNA expression in HepG-2 cells, with four miRNAs (miR-24, miR-29a, miR-30a, miR-210) upregulated.
- miR-29a demonstrated a therapeutic effect by inhibiting cell growth and inducing apoptosis in liver cancer cells.
- PPM1D was identified as a target gene of miR-29a, and a synergistic effect between miR-29a and arsenic trioxide was observed.
Conclusions:
- Arsenic trioxide significantly alters the microRNA (miRNA) expression profile in liver cancer cells.
- miR-29a plays a crucial role in the therapeutic mechanism of arsenic trioxide in liver cancer.
- The synergistic effect of miR-29a and arsenic trioxide may enable reduced drug dosage and decreased toxicity in cancer therapy.
Related Concept Videos
MicroRNAs
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns (non-coding regions of a gene) or intergenic regions (stretches of DNA present between genes). Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself, forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA...
MicroRNAs
MicroRNA (miRNA) are short, regulatory RNA transcribed from introns—non-coding regions of a gene—or intergenic regions—stretches of DNA present between genes. Several processing steps are required to form biologically active, mature miRNA. The initial transcript, called primary miRNA (pri-mRNA), base-pairs with itself forming a stem-loop structure. Within the nucleus, an endonuclease enzyme, called Drosha, shortens the stem-loop structure into hairpin-shaped pre-miRNA. After the pre-miRNA ends...

