Over-expression of miR-141 increases the radiosensitivity of esophagus cancer cells

Objective To investigate the role and potential molecular mechanism of the radiosensitivity of esophagus cancer cells. Methods: miR-141 mimics or its negative control was transfected into esophagus cancercells KYSE-150, respectively. Radiosensitivity of esophagus cancer cells was determined by CCK-8, flow cytometry and colony formation assay. The expression level of miR-141 was determined by qRT-PCR. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of proliferation-related protein Ki67 and apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2. Results: After radiation, the expression of miR-141 was decreased in KYSE-150 cells in a dose-dependent manner (t = 2.57-8.96, P < 0.05). Up-regulation of miR-141 significantly suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation and promoted apoptosis, indicating that overexpression of miR-141 enhanced the radiosensitivity of KYSE-150 cells(t = 3.24, P < 0.05). In addition, the miR-141 mimic significantly reduced the expressions of Ki67 and Bcl-2 protein (t = 6.56, 8.24, P < 0.01) and inhibited the expression of Bax protein compared with miR-control group (t = 3.24, P < 0.01). Conclusions: Over-expression of miR-141 enhances the radiosensitivity of esophagus cancer cells by regulating the expressions of proliferation-related protein Ki67 and apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2. (authors)