MicroRNA-520b targets interlukin-2 to regulate the growth, metastasis and drug sensitivity of liver cancer cells

Wei Sun; Wendong Li; Jinglong Chen; Ying Teng; Xiaoyan Ding

MicroRNA-520b targets interlukin-2 to regulate the growth, metastasis and drug sensitivity of liver cancer cells

Am J Transl Res. 2020 Apr 15;12(4):1267-1274. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Wei Sun¹, Wendong Li¹, Jinglong Chen¹, Ying Teng¹, Xiaoyan Ding¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Cancer Center, Beijing Ditan Hospital Capital Medical University No 8, Jingshundong Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100015, China.

PMID: 32355540
PMCID: PMC7191169

Abstract

Liver cancer is ranked as the 5^th major type of cancer and is responsible for significant number of human deaths across the world. Recent investigations have shown microRNAs (miRs) to be involved in diverse cellular processes. Additionally, they have been shown to exhibit therapeutic implications in treatment of different diseases including cancer. This study investigated the role and therapeutic implications of miR-520b in liver cancer. The results of the present study revealed significant downregulation of miR-520b in liver cancer cell lines. Overexpression of miR-520b suppresses the growth of the SNU-182 and HepG2 cells by triggering apoptosis. This was also accompanied by upsurge of Bax and Caspase-3 and depletion of Bcl-2 in SNU-182 and HepG2 cells. Additionally, miR-520b caused a significant decrease in the migratory and invasive potential of the SNU-182 and HepG2 cells and enhanced their chemosensitivity to Gemcitabine. Bioinformatic analysis and the dual luciferase showed that miR-520b targets IL2 in HepG2 cells. Suppression of IL2 inhibits the growth of the HepG2 cells while as IL2 overexpression could avoid the tumor suppressive effects of miR-520b in HepG2 cells. Taken together, miR-520b may prove to be essential therapeutic target in liver cancer treatment and warrants further research endeavours.

Keywords: Liver cancer; cell cycle arrest; microRNA; proliferation.