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miR-144-3p increases radiosensibility of gastric cancer cells by targeting inhibition of ZEB1

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Abstract

Purpose

This study set out to probe into the effect and mechanism of miR-144-3p on radiosensitivity of gastric cancer (GC) cells.

Methods

Cancer tissue and paracancerous tissue of GC patients admitted to our hospital were collected, their miR-144-3p expression was tested, GC cells were transfected, and survival and biological behavior of those cells under radiation were detected.

Results

After detection, miR-144-3p expression was down-regulated in GC tissue, while ZEB1 was up-regulated. There was no remarkable difference in the survival fraction of cells in each group before receiving radiation, but that of tumor cells decreased obviously (p < 0.05) after radiation exposure. Survival fraction of cells overexpressing miR-144-3p or silencing ZEB1 decreased more obviously, while the inhibition of miR-144-3p or overexpressing ZEB1 was weaker. Biological behavior of cells under 6 Gy radiation was detected. It was found that miR-144-3p overexpression or silencing ZEB1 dramatically inhibited the proliferation activity of GC cells under 6 Gy radiation, increased the levels of pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase-3 proteins (p < 0.05) and decreased the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 level (p < 0.05), resulting in an increase in the apoptosis rate of cells. miR-144-3p was confirmed to be ZEB1 targeting site by dual luciferase report. Moreover, rescue experiments prove that it can increase the radiosensitivity of GC cells by regulating ZEB1 expression.

Conclusion

miR-144-3p expression was down-regulated in GC, and it can increase the radiosensitivity of those cells by inhibiting ZEB1 expression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiotherapy, Binzhou Central Hospital, No. 108 Huancheng Nan Road, Huimin County, Binzhou, 251700, Shandong, China

    Z. Y. Gao & Z. Zhang

  2. Department of Oncology, Binzhou Central Hospital, Ward 3, Binzhou, 251700, China

    H. Liu

Authors
  1. Z. Y. Gao
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  2. H. Liu
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  3. Z. Zhang
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Contributions

ZG is responsible for the conception or design of the work. ZG, HL and ZZ contribute the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work. HL provides the tissue samples. ZG helps in the follow-up of the patients. HL helps in reviewing the histopathology slides. All authors finally approved the manuscript version to be published. ZG is the guarantor of the article.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Z. Y. Gao.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by Ethical Committee of Binzhou Central Hospital and conducted in accordance with the ethical standards.

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Gao, Z.Y., Liu, H. & Zhang, Z. miR-144-3p increases radiosensibility of gastric cancer cells by targeting inhibition of ZEB1. Clin Transl Oncol 23, 491–500 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-020-02436-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-020-02436-1

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