Effect of miR-124 on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and radio-resistance of nasopharyngeal carci-noma / 实用医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To identify the role of miR-124 in regulating the radiosensitivity and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods Transient transfection of cells with miR-124 mimic or inhibitor was performed and wound-healing assay was used to investigate the role of miR-124 in the EMT of NPC. The apoptosis affected by miR-124 was also measured after irradiation , followed by investigating the cell proliferation by EdU assay. Finally , proteins of Akt and ERK associated with EMT and radiosensitivity, were measured by western blot. Results The migration index from NPC cell line indicated that miR-124 repressed the EMT. The results from caspase-3 activity assay showed that caspase-3 activity after irradiation significantly increased in miR-124 mimic group compared with the control group (P < 0.01). It was also confirmed that irradiation led to a higher percentage of apoptosis in miR-124 group compared with the control group in NPC cells. Cell proliferation after irradiation was significantly decreased in MiR-124 group as compared with control group . MiR-124 inhibited the protein expression of p-Akt . Conclusion MiR-124 may repress the EMT and decrease radio-resistance of NPC via p-Akt signaling pathway , which may provide a new insight into radio-resistance in NPC.