MicroRNA-338-3p Inhibits Epithelial Mesenchymal Transformation Of HepG2 Hepatoma Cells

Objective: To explore the effects of microRNA-338-3p on the migration,invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transformation of HepG2 hepatoma cells.Methods: HepG2 hepatoma cells were randomly divided into three groups: control group(untransfected),vector group(transfected with empty plasmid)and OE group(transfected with microRNA-338-3p plasmid).PBS buffer,empty plasmid and mi RNA-338-3p mimics were transfected,respectively,and cultured for 24 h.The transfection efficiency of mi RNA-338-3p was detected by quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR).The migration index of cells was detected by scratch test.The invasive ability of cells was detected by Transwell method.The relative protein expression levels of E-cadherin and N-cadherin were detected by Western blot assay.Results:(1)The positive rate of mi RNA-338-3p transfection in this study was 96.03%,which met the experimental criteria.(2)The migration index of HepG2 hepatoma cells in the control group was not significantly different from that in the vector group(P>0.05).The migration index of the OE group was significantly lower than that of the control group(P <0.001).(3)There was no significant difference in the invasion ability of HepG2 hepatoma cells between the control group and the vector group(P>0.05).Compared with the control group,the invasive ability of OE was significantly decreased,with statistically significant difference(P < 0.001).(4)There was no significant difference in E-cadherin relative protein expression between the vector group and the control group(P>0.05).Compared with control group,the relative protein expression of E-cadherin in OE group was increased,and the difference was statistically significant(P < 0.05).(5)There was no significant difference in the relative protein expression level of N-cadherin between the vector group and the control group(P>0.05).Compared with control group,the relative protein expression of N-cadher was decreased,with statistically significant differences(P < 0.01).Conclusion:(1)microRNA-338-3p inhibited the migration and invasion ability of HepG2 hepatoma cells;(2)microRNA-338-3p inhibits epithelial mesenchymal transformation in HepG2 hepatoma cells by promoting E-cadherin protein expression and inhibiting N-cadherin protein expression.