Therapeutics Based on microRNA: A New Approach for Liver Cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious public health hazard. Polygenes involvement, accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes and immune response of viral vector during gene therapy have resulted in the high mortality rate without marked change. To provide a safeguard for gene therapy and the feasibility for a clinical application, efforts have been focused predominantly upon constructing liver-targeted vector recently. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of short endogenous RNAs, regulate the gene expression at the post-transcriptional level through imperfect base pairing with the 3′-untranslated region of target mRNAs. miRNAs, especially the liver-specific miRNA: miR-122, have multiple functions in liver development and abnormal expression of miRNAs could lead to liver diseases. Altered miRNA expressions have been observed in HCCs, viral hepatitis and hepatic fibrosis. The different expression profiles of miRNAs in HCC suggest that miRNAs may serve as either novel potential targets acting directly as oncogenes or therapeutic molecules working as tumor suppressor genes. Moreover, the abundance in general and liver specificity in particular, all together make them attractive to be considered as elements for hepatic specific targeting viral vector. This review describes recent progress in miRNA investigation on liver associated for better understanding the relationship between miRNA and liver cancer in order to raise prospects for therapy.

Anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of tectorigenin on hepatic stellate cells

AIM

To investigate the effect of tectorigenin on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSC)-T6 cells.

METHODS

HSC-T6 cells were incubated with tectorigenin at different concentrations, and their proliferation was assessed by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assay. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry assay with Hoechst 33342 staining. Also, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular [Ca(2+)](i), potential of mitochondrial membrane, activities of cytochrome c and caspase-9 and -3 were investigated to explore a conceivable apoptotic pathway.

RESULTS

Tectorigenin suppressed the proliferation of HSC-T6 cells and induced apoptosis of HSC-T6 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Tectorigenin at the concentration of 100 microg/mL greatly inhibited the viability of HSC-T6 cells and induced the condensation of chromatin and fragmentation of nuclei. When treated for 48 h, the percentage of cell growth and apoptosis reached 46.3% +/- 2.37% (P = 0.004) and 50.67% +/- 3.24% (P = 0.003), respectively. Furthermore, tectorigenin-induced apoptosis of HSC-T6 cells was associated with the generation of ROS, increased intracellular [Ca(2+)](i), loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, translocation of cytochrome c, and activation of caspase-9 and -3.

CONCLUSION

Tectorigenin inhibits proliferation of HSC-T6 cells and induces apoptosis of HSC-T6 cells.