MiRNA-4537 functions as a tumor suppressor in gastric cancer and increases the radiosensitivity of gastric cancer cells

Radiotherapy is a common method to treat gastric cancer (GC). However, the clinical outcomes of GC radiotherapy face challenges, and the mechanisms of GC radioresistance remain unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of miR-4537 in the radiation sensitivity of GC cells. Cell viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8. The proliferation of HGC27 and KATO III cells was measured using a colony formation assay. Flow cytometry was performed to examine the changes in cell apoptosis. Western blotting was conducted to detect the expression of zinc finger protein 587 (ZNF587) protein in HGC27 and KATO III cells. To confirm the relationship between miR-4537 and ZNF587, a luciferase reporter assay was performed. MiR-4537 was downregulated in GC tumors and cells and suppressed cell proliferation, while promoting cell apoptosis in GC. Importantly, we found that miR-4537 reduced the radioresistance of GC cells. In addition, we also confirmed that miR-4537 expression is negatively correlated with ZNF587 expression in GC tissues. MiR-4537 bound to ZNF587 and suppressed the expression level of ZNF587. Overexpression of ZNF587 partially counteracted the effects of miR-4537 on cell proliferation and apoptosis. In conclusion, in GC cells, miR-4537 inhibited the ability of cell proliferation, but on the contrary, it promoted the ability of cell apoptosis and improved radiosensitivity of the cells.