ABSTRACT
@#Objective: To investigate the potential effects of miR-455-3p on proliferation, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of ovarian cancer cells, and explore its molecular mechanism. Methods: The IOSE80, SKOV-3 and A2780 cells were transfected with miR-455-3p mimics and negative controls (NC) by using LipofectamineTM 2000. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay was performed to detect the mRNA expressions of miR-455-3p and fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) in IOSE80, SKOV-3 and A2780 cells. The expression levels of FABP4 and EMT-associated proteins were detected by Wb. CCK-8 assay was applied to measure cell proliferation. Cell migration was analyzed by using Transwell assay. Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict the potential target of miR-455-3p, and the targeting effect of miR-455-3p on FABP4 was verified by the dual-luciferase reporter assay system. Results: The expression of miR-455-3p was declined (all P<0.05), while the expression of FABP4 was elevated (all P< 0.05) in ovarian cancer cells (SKOV-3 and A2780) in comparison with normal ovarian IOSE80 cells. Additionally, over-expression of miR-455-3p obviously inhibited cell proliferation and migration capacity of SKOV-3 cells (all P<0.05). Furthermore, over-expression of miR-455-3p impeded EMT progress by up-regulating E-cadherin expression and down-regulating N-cadherin and vimentin expression (all P<0.05). Importantly, the dual-luciferase reporter system, qPCR and Wb validated that FABP4 was a specific target gene of miR-455-3p, and miR-455-3p showed specific binding with FABP4 3’-UTR and negatively regulated the expression of FABP4 at both mRNA and protein levels. Mechanistically, over-expression of FABP4 apparently reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-455-3p on cell proliferation and migration of SKOV-3 cells (all P<0.05). Conclusion: miR-455-3p, acting as a tumor suppressor protein, can inhibit ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration and EMT process by targeting FABP4, suggesting that miR-455-3p may be a new potential therapeutic target for ovarian cancer treatment.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of fluorofenidone (AKF-PD) in treating renal interstitial fibrosis in rats with unilateral urinary obstruction (UUO). Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham, UUO, UUO + enalapril, and UUO + AKF-PD groups. All rats, except sham, underwent left urethral obstruction surgery to establish the animal model. Rats were sacrificed 14 days after surgery, and serum was collected for renal function examination. Kidneys were collected to observe pathological changes. Immunohistochemistry was performed to assess collagen I (Col I) protein expression, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end-labeling staining to observe the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells. The expression of Fas-associated death domain (FADD), apoptotic protease activating factor-1 (Apaf-1), and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) proteins was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. AKF-PD showed no significant effect on renal function in UUO rats. The pathological changes were alleviated significantly after enalapril or AKF-PD treatment, but with no significant differences between the two groups. Col I protein was overexpressed in the UUO group, which was inhibited by both enalapril and AKF-PD. The number of apoptotic renal tubular epithelial cells was much higher in the UUO group, and AKF-PD significantly inhibited epithelial cells apoptosis. The expression of FADD, Apaf-1, and CHOP proteins was significantly upregulated in the UUO group and downregulated by enalapril and AKF-PD. In conclusion, AKF-PD improved renal interstitial fibrosis by inhibiting apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells in rats with UUO.