miR-340 Inhibits the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Down-Regulating Akt Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious threat to human health. miR-340 participates in HCC pathogenesis, but its specific mechanism is not completely clear. Therefore, our study assessed the mechanism by how miR-340 involves in HCC. The cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues of HCC patients were collected. miR-340 mimics/NC and Akt siRNA were transfected into HepG2 cells followed by analysis of miR-304 and EMT-related molecules expression by Real-time PCR, cell invasion and migration by Transwell assay, cell proliferation ability by CCK8 assay as well as p-Akt and p-mTOR level by Western blot. miR-340 in HCC tissues was significantly downregulated compared to adjacent tissues (P <0.001). With increased pathological grade, miR-340 expression was decreased gradually. p-Akt and p-mTOR in HCC tissues was significantly upregulated and elevated gradually with increased pathological grade. p-Akt and p-mTOR was negatively associated with miR-340 (P <0.001). After overexpression of miR-340, HepG2 cell proliferation, invasion, migration and epithelialization were significantly inhibited, and p-Akt and p-mTOR was reduced. When Akt expression was interfered with siRNA, cell proliferation and epithelialization was further inhibited. miR-340 inhibits the development of hepatocellular carcinoma through Akt signaling pathway.