Effects of miR-101 on the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric mucosal epithelial cells via Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway

X.-Q. Dong, Y.-H. Zhang, X.-Q. Shang, Y.-J. Zeng

Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan Institute of Digestive Diseases, Kunming, China. zengyujian@126.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of micro-ribonucleic acid (miR)-101 on the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric mucosal epithelial cells through nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) signaling pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human gastric epithelial AGS (CRL-1739) cells were cultured in vitro. MiR-101 down-regulation or over-expression was achieved by transfection of inhibitors, or miRNA mimics, respectively. The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. Meanwhile, the targets of miR-101 were verified by the Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay. Furthermore, the changes in protein levels were measured via Western blotting (WB).

RESULTS: Up-regulation of miR-101 significantly promoted the apoptosis of gastric mucosal epithelial cells. The 3’-untranslated region (3’-UTR) of Nrf2 was highly conserved to combine with miR-101. The Luciferase reporter gene assay showed that transfection of miR-101 mimics could remarkably inhibit the relative Luciferase activity in cells. In addition, miR-101 overexpression markedly down-regulated the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expressions of Nrf2 in cells.

CONCLUSIONS: MiR-101 plays an important role in regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of gastric mucosal epithelial cells by targeting the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway.

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