Downregulation of microRNA-196a enhances the sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer cells to cisplatin treatment

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are a class of small, non-coding RNA molecules that play an important role in the pathogenesis of human diseases through the regulation of gene expression. Although miRNA-196a has been implicated in the progression of human lung cancer, its role in enhancing the sensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells to cisplatin has not yet been confirmed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of miRNA-196a on the sensitivity of NSCLC cells to cisplatin in vitro and in vivo. RT-qPCR was used to detect miRNA-196a expression. Synthesized locked nucleic acid (LNA)-anti-miRNA-196a oligonucleotide was transiently transfected into the SPC-A-1 and A549 lung cancer cells to examine the effects of miRNA-196a on the growth of and colony formation inthe cisplatin-treated cells. The effects of miRNA-196a on the sensitivity of SPC-A-1 cells to cisplatin in vivo were determined using BALB/c nude mice. The expression of miRNA-196a was significantly higher in both the lung cancer tissues and cell lines. The LNA-based knockdown of miRNA-196a significantly inhibited SPC-A-1 and A549 cell growth and induced apoptosis. Moreover, the downregulation of miRNA-196a sensitized the SPC-A-1 and A549 NSCLC cells to cisplatin in vitro and in vivo, by inducing apoptosis. The findings of this study demonstrate that the administration of cisplatin in combination with miRNA-196a-targeted therapy may be a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of NSCLC.