Deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) plays an importantrole in human carcinogenesis. However, miRNAderegulation in the pre-malignant lesions and expressionchanges during multistep hepatocarcinogenesis remainelusive. We investigated the expression changes of sevencancer-related miRNAs during the early stages of HBVrelatedhepatocarcinogenesis, including dysplasticnodules (DN), small hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs),and their corresponding non-tumorous livers. We foundthat down-regulation of miR-145 and miR-199b and upregulationof miR-224 were frequently observed in premalignantDNs and these changes persisted throughoutHCC development. Restoration of miR-145 in bothHepG2 and Hep3B HCC cells significantly inhibited cellproliferation and reduced cell migration and cell invasion.Furthermore, these inhibitory functions of miR-145could be substantially reduced by anti-miR-145 inhibitor.Our results showed that miRNA deregulation was anearly event and accumulated throughout the varioussteps of HBV-associated hepatocarcinogenesis.
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