Purpose: Emerging evidence has shown that radiotherapy is an effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Micro(mi)RNAs are involved in regulating radiosensitivity in many cancers. MiR-122 accounts for approximately 70% of all cloned miRNAs in the liver, but there are few reports about whether it is involved in regulating of radiosensitivity in HCC cells.
Materials and methods: HCC cells (HepG2 and Huh7) overexpressing miR-122 were constructed by transfecting them with lentiviral-miR-122. Then, their proliferation ability was analyzed by the MTT, and colony formation assays and a xenograft tumor model was used to detect their radiosensitivity. The expression of cyclin G1 mRNA and protein was detected by the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively.
Results: Overexpression of miR-122 inhibited the proliferation of, and radiosensitized HCC cells. Cyclin G1 mRNA and protein level were suppressed in HepG2 tumors overexpression miR-122.
Conclusion: MiR-122 may be useful as a potential radiosensitizer for HCC, and its mechanism is related to the regulation of cyclin G1.
Keywords: Hepatocellular carcinoma; MiR-122; cyclin G1; proliferation; radiosensitivity; xenograft tumor model.