Hypoxia-induced microRNA-301b regulates apoptosis by targeting Bim in lung cancer

Worldwide, lung cancer accounts for the majority of cancer-related deaths. Aberrant expression of miRNAs has increasingly been reported to be associated with tumour progression. This study aimed to explore the role of miR-301b in regulating apoptosis in lung cancer.

Expression of miR-301b was assessed by real-time PCR in cell lines, human patient tissues and cells treated under hypoxia and DMOG. Scramble siRNA, miR-301b inhibitor and miR-301b mimics were transfected into lung cancer cells to determine their effects on apoptosis. Additionally, a mouse xenograft model was used to explore functions of miR-301b on apoptosis, in vivo. Finally, relationships between Bim and miR-301b levels were explored by luciferase reporter assay and Western blotting.

We found that miR-301b was highly expressed in lung cancer tissues and cell lines. Expression of miR-301b was induced by hypoxia, and miR-301b suppressed expression of Bim by targeting its 3'UTR. Functionally, ectopic expression of miR-301b enhanced cell population growth, reduced apoptosis and reduced sensitivity of cells to chemotherapy. In the xenograft model, overexpression of miR-301b promoted tumour growth. Additionally, miR-301b and Bim expression were inversely correlated in clinical lung cancer samples.

This study provides new insights into the function of miRNA-301b in lung cancer and suggests that miRNA-301b could be a potential molecular target for chemotherapy.