MiR-122 Increases Sensitivity of BEL-7402/5-FU Cells to 5-fluorouracil via Up-regulation of Wild-type p53 Protein

Objective To investigate the influence and mechanism of miR-122 confer 5-FU sensitivity in BEL-7402/5-FU cells.Methods MiR-122 and negative miRNA expression vectors were constructed and stably transfected into BEL-7402/5-FU cells.Western Blotting was used to detect Wild-type p53(wt-p53) protein expression.Drug sensitivity of the cells to 5-fluorouracil(5-FU) were analyzed with MTT and flow cytometry.Results Compared with negative miRNA transfectants or untreated cells,protein expression level of wt-p53 in stable miR-122 transfectants were decreased.Flow cytometry results demonstrated that apoptosis rate increased in miR-122 transfected cells,compared with negative miRNA or untreated cells.Conclution MiR-122 can specifically up-regulate the expression of wt-p53 in BEL-7402/5-FU cells,which increased cells spontaneous apoptosis and sensitize cells to 5-FU.Therefore,miR-122 may be used as a potential therapy agent against human hepatoblastoma.