Abstract:

This study explored the inhibitory effect of miR-223-3p on the proliferation of brain glioma cells and its potential mechanism in relation to growth arrest-specific transcripts (GAS5). We utilized the StarBase tool to predict the binding of GAS5 to miR-223-3p, further confirming the binding relationship between GAS5 and miR-223-3p through a dual luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. In vitro cultured U87 brain glial cells were categorized into four groups: the control group, quercetin group, GAS5 inhibition group, and quercetin + si-GAS5 group. We analyzed and compared the impacts of quercetin on GAS5/miR-223-3p and pyroptotic proteins (NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDME), as well as the proliferative capacity of U87 cells. StarBase’s predictions indicated that GAS5 bound to miR-223-3p. This was corroborated by the dual luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay, which demonstrated a direct binding between GAS5 and miR-223-3p. Quercetin was observed to enhance GAS5 expression, inhibit the expression of miR-223-3p and pyroptotic proteins (NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDME), and suppress the proliferation and invasion of U87 cells (P < 0.05). Downregulation of GAS5 expression correlated with an increase in the expression of miR-223-3p and pyroptotic proteins (NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDME), promoting the proliferation and invasion of RC-4B/C cells (P < 0.05). Quercetin was able to reverse the increase in miR-223-3p expression and pyroptotic proteins (NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, GSDMD, and GSDME) induced by the downregulation of GAS5, thereby inhibiting the proliferation and invasion of U87 cells (P < 0.05). In conclusion, quercetin might inhibit the proliferation of U87 brain glioma cells by promoting the expression of GAS5, which in turn competitively inhibited miR-223-3p and suppressed the pyroptotic signaling pathway.

Key words: Glimoa, U87, GAS5, miR-223-3p, Pyroptosis