Ultrasound-Targeted Microbubble Destruction-Mediated miR-1228 Downregulation Suppresses Tumor Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Cervical-Cancer Cells

Abstract

<b><i>Objectives:</i></b> Ultrasound-targeted microbubble destruction (UTMD) is an effective technology for microRNA (miRNA) delivery. miR-1228 plays a crucial role and acts as an oncogenic role in several types of cancers. This study aimed to investigate the functional effect of UTMD-mediated miR-1228 knockdown in cervical-cancer cells. <b><i>Design:</i></b> A total of 131 patients who were diagnosed with cervical cancer by histopathological examination were enrolled in this study at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University from February 2018 to January 2021. <b><i>Participants/Materials, Setting, Methods:</i></b> miR-1228 expression was tested by reverse-transcription quantitative PCR assay. miR-1228 inhibitors were transfected into cervical-cancer cells using the UTMD method. Then, Cell Counting Kit-8 and transwell assays were carried out to explore the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion potentials, respectively. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The results revealed that miR-1228 expression was high in human cervical-cancer tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of miR-1228 suppressed tumor cell proliferation abilities, migration, and invasion capacities. Moreover, UTMD-mediated mIR-1228 inhibitor delivery enhanced the transfection efficiency of miR-1228 inhibitor alone. The UTMD-mediated miR-1228 inhibition enhanced the suppressive role of miR-1228 downregulation on cell proliferation capacity, migration, and invasion abilities in tumor cells, compared to miR-1228 knockdown alone. <b><i>Limitations:</i></b> The experiments were carried out only in SiHa and HeLa cells in vitro, and the results were not verified in animals. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> These results indicated that the delivery of the UTMD-mediated miR-1228 inhibitor might be a potential therapeutic method for the treatment of cervical cancer through suppressing cellular activities.