MicroRNA-340 Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits Metastasis of Ovarian Cancer Cells by Inactivation of NF-κB1

Aims: Aberrant expression of microRNA-340 (miR-340) has been frequently reported in some cancers excluding ovarian cancer (OC). The role and its molecular mechanism of miR-340 in OC have not been reported. Methods: Real-time PCR was performed to detect the expression of miR-340 in OC cell lines. MiR-340 mimic and negative control were transfected into OC cells and the effects of miR-340 on the cell proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and metastasis were investigated by Brdu-ELISA assay, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, Transwell and ELISA assays. Furthermore, protein level of NF-κB1 was measured by Western blotting. Meanwhile, luciferase assays were performed to validate NF-κB1 as miR-340 target in OC cells. Results: In this study, we explored the effects of miR-340 overexpression on apoptosis, invasion and EMT in OC cells. The mRNA level of miR-340 in OC cell lines and tissues was evidently reduced. The miR-340 mimic was transiently transfected into OC cells using Lipofectamine™ 2000 reagent. Subsequently, the Brdu-ELISA results showed that introduction of miR-340 inhibited cell proliferation. Our data also demonstrated that miR-340 mimic arrested cell cycle progression and promoted apoptosis of OC cells. In addition, miR-340 overexpression could also inhibit invasion and EMT of OC cells. qRT-PCR were used to determined the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 (MMP-2 and -9) in OC cells. Next, we found that NF-κB1 expression was evidently reduced by up-regulation of miR-340. Bioinformatics analysis predicted that the NF-κB1 was a potential target gene of miR-340. Luciferase reporter assay further confirmed that miR-340 could directly target the 3' UTR of NF-κB1. Moreover, overexpression of NF-κB1 in OC cells transfected with miR-340 mimic partially reversed the inhibitory of miR-340 mimic. Conclusion: miR-340 induced cell apoptosis and inhibited metastasis in OC cells by down-regulation of NF-κB1.