Regulating A549 cells growth by ASO inhibiting miRNA expression

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have a profound impact on cell processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, and stress responses. We aimed to explore the role of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) to induce proliferation or apoptosis of A549 cancer cells by inhibiting the expression of miRNAs. After A549/HBE/293T cells were treated with ASO, cells proliferation/apoptosis, and their relevant oncogenes/tumor suppressor genes were detected by light and electron microscopy, real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, etc. The results showed that ASO could inhibit the expression of miRNAs effectively. miR-16, miR-17, miR-34a–c, and miR-125 served as tumor suppressor miRNAs, while miR-20, miR-106, and miR-150 acted as oncogenic miRNAs. Our results also indicated that miR-16/34a–c, miR-17-5p, miR-125, miR-106, and miR-150 were the upstream factors, which could regulate the expression of BCL-2, E2F1, E2F3, RB1, and P53, respectively. After A549 cells treated with ASO for 24 h and different concentrations of anti-cancer drug (cisplatin or demethylcantharidin) were added into culture medium, the results indicated the percentage of alive cells in group treated with both ASO-106 (or ASO-150) and anti-cancer drug was lower than that in group treated with ASO, or anti-cancer drug, or both ASO-16 (or ASO-34a) and anti-cancer drug. In conclusion, ASO (specific to oncogenic miRNAs) could induce A549 cells apoptosis by inhibiting oncogenic miRNAs, and could increase chemotherapy sensitivity of A549 cells to anti-cancer drug, which holds great promise to lung cancer therapy.