Overexpression of miRNA-125a-5p inhibits the growth and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating the expression of VEGF-A

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate whether miRNA (miRNA or miR)-125a-5p regulates angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) via VEGF-A. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression of miRNA or mRNA. Western blotting was used to determine the expression of target protein in cells, while ELISA was employed to measure the secretion of target protein by cells. Dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to identify the direct interaction between miRNA and the 3’-untranslated region of its target mRNA. CCK-8 assay was carried out to evaluate the proliferation of cells. MTT assay was performed to examine the migration of cells. The results showed that decreased expression of miR-125a-5p in HHC HepG2 cells was potentially related to the increased expression of VEGF-A. The expression of miR-125a-5p regulated VEGF-A expression and secretion of HepG2 cells. miR-125a-5p could bind with the 3’-UTR seed region of VEGF-A mRNA to inhibit its expression. miR-125a-5p increased the expression and secretion of VEGF-A by HepG2 cells, which subsequently promoted the proliferation of HUVECs by increasing the phosphorylation of Akt. miR-125a-5p regulated the migration of HUVECs via the VEGF-A/VEGFR2/Akt signalling pathway, which was affected by the expression and secretion of VEGF-A by HepG2 cells. Thus, the present study demonstrates that overexpression of miR-125a-5p inhibits the growth and angiogenesis of HCC by regulating the expression of VEGF-A