miR-216a-5p inhibits malignant progression in small cell lung cancer: involvement of the Bcl-2 family proteins

Yanqin Sun,1,* Bingshuang Hu,2,* Yanhong Wang,3 Zhen Li,1 Jingfang Wu,4 Yunchu Yang,4 Yue Wei,5 Xiaofeng Peng,5 Hongling Chen,5 Rongqi Chen,5 Pingyan Jiang,5 Sixian Fang,5 Zhiwu Yu,6 Linlang Guo4 1Department of Pathology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China; 2Department of Radiotherapy, Zhongshan People’s Hospital, Zhongshan, China; 3Department of Gynecology, Jinxiang People’s Hospital, Jining, China; 4Department of Pathology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; 5College of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China; 6Division of Laboratory Science, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China *These authors contributed equally to this work Objective: microRNAs are regulatory molecules regarded as important in the pathogenesis of different types of tumors. microRNA-216a (miR-216a-5p) has been identified as a tumor suppressor in multiple malignancies. However, the role of miR-216a-5p in the pathogenesis of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains obscure. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of the miR-216a-5p/Bcl-2 axis in SCLC pathogenesis. Materials and methods: All the experimental methods used were as follows: microarray analysis, cell culture, transient, and stable gene transfection; real-time fluorescence PCR; Western blot; flow cytometry for cell cycle analysis; in vitro proliferation assay; in vitro wound healing experiment; in vivo xenograft model in nude mice; and dual luciferase reporter assay. All statistical analyses were carried out using GraphPad Prism 7 software. Statistical significance was analyzed by Student’s t-test or one-way ANOVA. P