MiR-767-3p promotes the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma via targeting CASP-3/-9.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between miR-767-3p and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHOD: We examined the expression of miR-767-3p in both HCC tissues and HCC cell lines by qRT-PCR and western blot assay. We also investigated the influence of miR-767-3p on HCC by transfecting HCC cells with either miR-767-3p mimics or inhibitors.

RESULT: MiR-767-3p expression was increased in HCCs and cell lines. Functional analyses demonstrated that miR-767-3p increased HCC cell proliferation and prevented apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo, whereas miR-767-3p inhibition had the opposite effect. Caspase-3 and caspase-9 were found to be direct targets of miR-767-3p in HCC cell lines, and overexpression of miR-767-3p suppressed caspase-3/-9 production. Caspase-3 and caspase-9 siRNA knockdown revealed similar promoting of cell proliferation and inhibiting of cell apoptosis produced by miR-767-3p overexpression, whereas caspase-3/-9 siRNAs inhibited miR-767-3p knockdown-induced inhibition of cell proliferation and promotion of cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSION: MiR-767-3p promoted proliferation and prevented apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through inhibiting the caspase-3/caspase-9 pathway.