miR-23a Regulates Proliferation and Apoptosis of Rectal Cancer via Targeting Gene ESRP1 / 医学研究杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To elucidate the relative level of miR-23a RNA in rectal cancer tissues and cell line as well as the effects of miR-23a on the cell proliferation and apoptosis of rectal cancer cells in vitro.Methods Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was applied in assessment of the transcription of miR-23a in rectal cancer tissues and in vitro cells.The RNA fragment of miR-23a inhibitor and inhibitor NC were synthesized and transfected into SW480 cells.Cell proliferation was evaluated with Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay.The apoptotic rate was analyzed by flow cytometry.The expression of ESRP1 was detected by western blot.Wild-type pGL3-ESRP1-3'UTR (wt-pGL3-ESRP1-3'UTR) or mutant pGL3-ESRP1-3'UTR (mut-pGL3-ES-RP1-3'UTR) plasmids and miR-23a inhibitor RNA fragments or inhibitor NC RNA fragments were co-transfected into HEK293 and SW480 cells,then the Promega dual luciferase reporter gene assay kit was used to examine the dual luciferase activity in SW480 cells.Resuits The relative RNA level of miR-23a was significantly promoted in both rectal cancer tissue samples and SW480 cells.After SW480cells were transfected with miR-23a inhibitor,human rectal cancer cell line SW480 with down-regulation of miR-23a showed significant inhibition of cell proliferation compared with negative control (P =0.000).Furthermore,our data demonstrated clearly that the inhibition of miR-23a promoted apoptosis in SW480 cells (P =0.000).Luciferase assay showed that ESRP1 was a direct target gene of miR -23a.Conclusion The expression of miR-23a is clearly associated with the growth and apoptosis of human rectal cells by targeting ESRP1,whilst miR-23a may be used as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of rectal cancer in the future.