MicroRNA-143 regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer cells by targeting HIF-1α

Y. Zhao, X. Liu, Y.-X. Lu

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, China. bsfengning@126.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of miR-143 on proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer HeLa cells and its target hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression levels of miR-143 in 30 cases of normal cervical tissues, 30 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia tissues, and 30 cases of cervical cancer tissues, were detected via Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Cervical cancer HeLa cells were transfected with miR-143 mimics, and the transfection effect was detected via Real-time qPCR. In the experiment, HeLa cells were divided into three groups: non-transfection group, miR-143 control group and miR-143 transfection group. The cell proliferation in each group was detected via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the cell apoptosis in each group was detected by flow cytometry. Moreover, the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression levels of HIF-1α in each group, were detected by qPCR and Western blotting, and the relationship between miR-143 and HIF-1α was verified by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.

RESULTS: The level of miR-143 in miR-143 transfection group was higher than those in non-transfection group and miR-143 control group; the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). The proliferation rate was decreased, but the apoptosis rate was increased in miR-143 transfection group compared with those in the other two groups; the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). The transient overexpression of miR-143 could decrease the mRNA and protein levels of HIF-1α in HeLa cells (p<0.01). Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay proved that HIF-1α was a direct target of miR-143.

CONCLUSIONS: MiR-143 can regulate the proliferation and apoptosis of cervical cancer HeLa cells, and HIF-1α is a direct target of miR-143.

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