Effects of microRNA-20b on invasion and migration of gastric cancer MGC-803 cells

ZHU Yong; YANG Zhe; LI Xiaohua; ZHANG Yun; LI Jianping; SU Yuntao

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1009-0460.2019.01.004

Abstract：Objective To explore the effect of microRNA-20 b (miR-20 b) on invasion and migration of gastric cancer MGC-803 cells. Methods The MGC-803 cells were transfected with miR-20 b inhibitor (inhibitor-transfected group) and miR-20 b inhibitor negative control (NC group), and the untransfected cells were assigned as the non-transfected group. Real-time quantitative PCR (QPCR) was used to detect the level of miR-20 b at 48 h after transfection in each group to evaluate the transfection efficiency. Transwell and scratch experiments were used to compare the invasive and migrative ability of cells in each group. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), phosphorylated signal transduction activating transcription factor-3 (pSTAT3) and phosphorylated tyrosine protein kinase-1 (p-JAK1). Results The results of QPCR showed that the levels of miR-20 b in non-transfected group, NC group and inhibitor-transfected group were 1. 054 ± 0. 123, 0. 987 ± 0. 085 and 0. 506 ± 0. 092. Compared with non-transfected group and NC group, the level of miR-20 b in inhibitor-transfected group were lower (P ＜ 0. 05). The scratch healing rates in non-transfected group, NC group and inhibitor-transfected group were (60. 21 ± 1. 16) ％, (62. 57 ± 2. 06) ％ and (25. 17 ± 2. 69) ％, respectively. The numbers of penetrating cells in non-transfected group, NC group and inhibitor-transfected group were 448 ± 39, 415 ± 33 and 196 ± 29, respectively. Compared with non-transfected group and NC group, the scratch healing rates and the number of penetrating cells in inhibitor-transfected group were significantly decreased (P ＜ 0. 05). Transfection of miR-20 b inhibitor significantly reduced the expression of MMP-9, p-JAK1 and p-STAT3 (P ＜ 0. 05). Conclusion Down-regulation of miR-20 b level can inhibit the invasion and migration of gastric cancer cells, which may be related to the reduction of MMP-9 expression and the inhibition of JAK/STAT signaling pathway. It has a certain application prospect in targeted therapy of gastric cancer.