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Updated: Apr 30, 2026
Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis
Published on: March 30, 2019
[Effect of antisense miR-224 on gastric cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis]
Shengxun Mao1, Nan He1, Lin Xin1
1Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China.
Objective:
To observe the effects of miR-224 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) on the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells in vitro and vivo.
Methods:
The expression of miR-224 in the cancer tissues and their adjacent tissues in 120 gastric cancer patients were detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The biological effects of miR-224 ASO on human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells was assessed by MTT assay, clone formation assay, flow cytometry and in vivo experiment in nude mice.
Results:
Compared with the control group (0.50 ± 0.07), miR-224 ASO significantly reduced the miR-224 mRNA expression in the cancer patients (0.09 ± 0.01, P < 0.05). MTT assay results showed that the survival rate of gastric cells at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h was 53.6%, 59.1% and 70.1% in the miR-224 ASO group, and 12.3%, 17.4% and 24.7%, respectively, in the control group (P < 0.05 for all). Clone formation assay revealed that clone formation rate in the miR-224 ASO group was (5.33 ± 0.74)%, significantly lower than the (33.33 ± 8.38)% in the control group (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry indicated that the apoptotic index was (15.68 ± 1.46)% in the miR-224 ASO group and (3.36 ± 0.88)% in the control group (P < 0.01). In addition, the expressions of Bcl2 mRNA and protein were 1.05 ± 0.04 and 0.21 ± 0.03 in the miR-224 ASO group, significantly lower than that in the control group (4.87 ± 0.96 and 0.88 ± 0.09, P < 0.01). The in vivo study further showed that the tumor volume in the experimental group is significantly smaller than that in the control group (P = 0.01).
Conclusions:
MiR-224 is overexpressed in human gastric cancer. Reducing the expression of miR-224 can effectively inhibit the growth and promote apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. miR-224 may become a new target for the regulation of gene expression in gastric cancer.
Insights
Antisense oligonucleotide targeting miR-224 (ASO) effectively inhibited gastric cancer cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. This suggests miR-224 is a promising therapeutic target for gastric cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Context:
- Gastric cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide.
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in cancer development and progression.
- miR-224 has been implicated in various cancers, but its role in gastric cancer requires further elucidation.
Purpose:
- To investigate the therapeutic potential of targeting miR-224 in gastric cancer.
- To evaluate the effects of miR-224 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) on gastric cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis.
- To assess the efficacy of miR-224 ASO in both in vitro and in vivo gastric cancer models.
Summary:
- miR-224 expression was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer tissues compared to adjacent tissues.
- Treatment with miR-224 ASO markedly reduced gastric cancer cell viability and colony formation.
- miR-224 ASO induced significant apoptosis in gastric cancer cells and suppressed tumor growth in vivo.
- The expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 was downregulated by miR-224 ASO treatment.
Impact:
- These findings highlight miR-224 as a potential oncogene in gastric cancer.
- Targeting miR-224 with ASO demonstrates a promising therapeutic strategy for gastric cancer.
- This research opens new avenues for developing targeted gene therapies for gastric cancer patients.
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