MiR-20b-5p promotes hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion by down-regulating CPEB3

• Published in: Annals of hepatology 2021-07, Vol.23, p.100345-100345, Article 100345
• Main Authors: Li, Zhuokai, Wu, Lvzhong, Tan, Wei, Zhang, Kun, Lin, Qiaomei, Zhu, Jinde, Tu, Chaoyong, Lv, Xinliang, Jiang, Chuan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - genetics; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Case-Control Studies; Cell Culture Techniques; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; CPEB3; Databases, Factual; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Humans; Invasion; Liver Neoplasms - genetics; Liver Neoplasms - metabolism; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; Migration; miR-20b-5p; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Proliferation; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; RNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; RNA-Binding Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 1665-2681; 2659-5982
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aohep.2021.100345

This study aimed to explore the functional mechanism of the miRNA-20b-5p/cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein 3 (miR-20b-5p/CPEB3) axis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) so as to provide a new idea for targeted therapy of HCC. Bioinformatics analysis was employed to obtain markedly differentially expressed miRNAs and mRNAs in The Cancer Genome Atlas-Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA-LIHC) dataset, so as to find target miRNA and its target mRNA. Real-time quantitative PCR was conducted to detect miR-20b-5p and CPEB3 mRNA expression. Western blot was performed to determine CPEB3 protein expression. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was carried out to verify the targeting relationship between miR-20b-5p and CPEB3. Cell counting kit-8 assay, wound healing assay, Transwell invasion assay and flow cytometry were conducted to evaluate the proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of HCC cells. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that miR-20b-5p and CPEB3 were markedly highly and lowly expressed, respectively, in HCC tissue in TCGA-LIHC dataset. Over-expressing miR-20b-5p facilitated the proliferation, migration and invasion, and suppressed the apoptosis of HCC cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assay validated that there was a targeting relationship between miR-20b-5p and CPEB3. The inhibitory effect of CPEB3 over-expression on HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion was reversed by over-expressing miR-20b-5p. The present study proved that miR-20b-5p promotes HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion by inhibiting CPEB3 expression, which may provide a theoretical basis for the prognosis and treatment of HCC patients.