Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 13, 2026

Profiling of Estrogen-regulated MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer Cells
16:24

Profiling of Estrogen-regulated MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer Cells

Published on: February 21, 2014

20.7K

Berberine regulates the microRNA-21-ITGΒ4-PDCD4 axis and inhibits colon cancer viability

Yanfeng Lü1, Bingbing Han2, Hualong Yu1

  • 1Department of Anoproctology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, P.R. China.

Oncology Letters
|March 23, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Berberine suppresses colon cancer cell viability by inhibiting microRNA-21 (miR-21) and promoting integrin β4 (ITGβ4) and programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) expression. This natural compound shows promise for clinical applications in colon cancer treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Berberine, a natural compound from medicinal herbs, is affordable, safe, and convenient, suggesting broad clinical potential.
  • Colon cancer remains a significant health concern, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying berberine's anti-cancer effects is crucial for its clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the inhibitory effect of berberine on colon cancer cell viability.
  • To elucidate the role of berberine in regulating the microRNA-21 (miR-21)-integrin β4 (ITGβ4)-programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) gene network in colon cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the human colon carcinoma HCT116 cell line for in vitro experiments.
  • Assessed cell viability, apoptosis, and caspase-3 activity following berberine treatment.
  • Quantified the expression levels of miR-21, ITGβ4, and PDCD4 proteins.

Main Results:

  • Berberine treatment significantly suppressed colon cancer cell viability, induced apoptosis, and activated caspase-3.
  • Berberine inhibited miR-21 expression while promoting ITGβ4 and PDCD4 protein expression in HCT116 cells.
  • Overexpression of miR-21 counteracted berberine's anti-cancer effects and suppressed ITGβ4 and PDCD4 expression.

Conclusions:

  • The miR-21/ITGβ4/PDCD4 network is implicated in the anti-cancer effects of berberine on colon cancer cell viability and apoptosis.
  • Berberine demonstrates potential as a therapeutic agent for colon cancer through modulation of this specific molecular pathway.
Keywords:
berberinecolon cancerintegrin β4microRNA-21programmed cell death 4

More Related Videos

Describing a Transcription Factor Dependent Regulation of the MicroRNA Transcriptome07:23

Describing a Transcription Factor Dependent Regulation of the MicroRNA Transcriptome

Published on: June 15, 2016

9.0K
In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice07:02

In Vivo Inhibition of MicroRNA to Decrease Tumor Growth in Mice

Published on: August 23, 2019

7.8K

Related Concept Videos

MicroRNAs01:22

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...
24.3K
MicroRNAs01:22

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...
4.1K
Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps02:24

Regulation of Expression Occurs at Multiple Steps

Gene expression can be regulated at almost every step from gene to protein. Transcription is the step that is most commonly regulated. This involves the binding of proteins to short regulatory sequences on the DNA. This association can either promote or inhibit the transcription of a gene associated with the respective sequence.
Transcription results in the generation of precursor (pre-mRNA) that consists of both exons and introns, which needs further processing before being translated to a...
26.5K
Hormonal Regulation01:40

Hormonal Regulation

Hormones regulate a significant portion of digestion through activation of the neuroendocrine system. The neuroendocrine system of digestion contains many different hormones all with multiple functions that are both, directly and indirectly, involved in digestion.
48.3K
Feedback Inhibition00:46

Feedback Inhibition

Biochemical reactions are occurring constantly in cells, converting starting substances to different products, usually with the help of enzymes that speed the reactions. Without enzymes, it would take far too long for most reactions to occur to be useful to the cell!
57.3K
Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis01:37

Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

The response to stress—be it physical or psychological, acute or chronic—involves activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis is part of the neuroendocrine system because it involves both neuronal and hormonal communication. Its function is to regulate homeostatic systems—metabolic, cardiovascular, and immune—providing the necessary means to respond to a stressor.
66.5K