The role of miR-488-3p on suppressing colorectal cancer by Codonopsis Bulleyana Forest ex Diels in mice

Abstract

Abstract (Background) Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a frequently occurring cancer. We aimed to evaluate the roles and possible mechanism of microRNAs (miRs) and Codonopis bulleynana Forest ex Diels (cbFeD) in the development of mice CRC. (Methods) The differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) in CRC mice and their response to cbFeD were analyzed using global miRNA expression profiling, and then the role of cbFeD on CRC was through regulating the expression of miRNA in mice was identified in MC38 cell lines that was incubated with cbFeD and over-expressed with miRNA mimics. (Results) Results showed that 54 DEMs were found in CRC mice, and they enriched in the processes of cancer development and apoptosis. Among them, miR-488-3p was significantly increased and decreased following exposure to cbFeD. In cbFeD incubated MC38 cells, the expression of miR-488-3p was significantly decreased, and its target gene PTEN (phosphate and tension homology deleted on chromsome ten) was increased markedly. After over-expressing miR-488-3p mimics in MC38 cells, PTEN was decreased by 20% while a 3-fold increased when exposed to cbFeD for 48h. And it was also found that cbFeD could significantly suppress cell proliferation activity and promote apoptosis in MC38 cells, and it could play the above effects following over-expressed miR-488-3p mimics. (Conclusions) Overall, our results here suggested that there may be a negative correlation between miR-488-3p and PTEN, and targeting PTEN by miR-488-3p may be a mechanism by which cbFeD suppresseed the CRC in mice.