Effects of Liposomal Nanoparticles-Mediated miR-126 on Cervical Cancer Cells via Anti-Programmed Cell Death-1/Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) Signaling

Abstract

Cervical cancer is often treated with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but it does not have the advantages of precise treatment and prognosis is not ideal. Molecular targeted therapy can make up for the above shortcomings. This study mainly analyzed the influence of miR-126 on cervical cancer cells and possible molecular mechanisms, so as to provide a reference for better clinical improvement of prognosis for cervical cancer. C33a cells were assigned into control group, empty carrier group (C33a cells were co-cultured with liposome nanoparticle carrier), inhibitor group (C33a cells were treated with PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway inhibitor), miR-126 group (miR-126 with liposomal nanoparticles as carrier was added to C33a cells), followed by expression analysis of miR-126 and AK2, cell proliferation, PD-1/PD-L1 signaling and phosphorylation levels, as well as tumor mass and volume in nude mice. At 24 h, no difference of cell proliferation was found (P > 0.05) but cell proliferation showed significant differences after cell growth of 48 h, with lower proliferation in inhibitor group and miR-126 group (P < 0.05). The levels of PD-1, PD-L1, AK2, and p-PD-1 in inhibitor group and miR-126 group were significantly lower than for the other two groups (P > 0.05). There was a target relationship between miR-126 and AK2. The transplanted tumor in the miR-126 group was significantly decreased, with lower tumor mass and volume than control group (P < 0.05). The carrier-based miR-126 and PD-1/PD-L1 signaling inhibitors can inhibit cervical cancer cell proliferation.