Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry (Mar 2014)

MiR-291b-3p Induces Apoptosis in Liver Cell Line NCTC1469 by Reducing the Level of RNA-binding Protein HuR

  • Jun Guo,
  • Meng Li,
  • Xiangyu Meng,
  • JingZhe Sui,
  • Lin Dou,
  • Weiqing Tang,
  • Xiuqing Huang,
  • Yong Man,
  • Shu Wang,
  • Jian Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1159/000358654
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 33, no. 3
pp. 810 – 822

Abstract

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Background: There is increasing evidence that miRNAs are involved in cellular apoptosis. However, the specific role of miR-291b-3p in apoptosis has not been elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the effect of miR-291b-3p on NCTC1469 cell growth and apoptosis. Methods: Cell viability and apoptosis were examined in NCTC1469 cells transfected with miR-291b-3p mimics, inhibitor miRNA or negative control. Using computational miRNA target prediction databases, HuR was predicted as a target of miR-291b-3p. Luciferase assay, immunofluorescence and western blot were used to further explore the effects of miR-291b-3p on HuR expression. In addition, the effect of HuR on cell apoptosis was evaluated using a HuR-specific siRNA. Results: TNF-α-induced hepatocyte apoptosis was accompanied by enhanced expression of miR-291b-3p, suggesting that miR-291b-3p might contribute to the apoptotic process. Follow-up experiments showed that upregulation of miR-291b-3p decreased cell viability and induced NCTC1469 cell apoptosis. Additionally, similar to the activity of miR-519, which is another member of the same miRNA family, miR-291b-3p suppressed HuR translation through binding to the HuR coding region (CR). We further showed that the downregulation of HuR expression by miR-291b-3p was accompanied by reduced Bcl-2 expression. Moreover, knockdown of HuR also impaired Bcl-2 expression and increased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. More significantly, downregulation of miR-291b-3p failed to increase Bcl2 expression in NCTC1469 cells that were co-transfected with siRNA-HuR. Finally, inhibition of miR-291b-3p led to reduced apoptosis, while knockdown of HuR by siRNA promoted apoptosis, even in NCTC1469 cells that were co-transfected with the miR-291b-3p inhibitor. Conclusion: The current data suggested that miR-291b-3p contributed to NCTC1469 cell apoptosis by regulating the expression of HuR, which in turn increased Bcl-2 stability.

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