Cyclin G1 Is a Target of miR-122a, a MicroRNA Frequently Down-regulated in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

We investigated the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A genome-wide miRNA microarray was used to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in HCCs arisen on cirrhotic livers. Thirty-five miRNAs were identified. Several of these miRNAs were previously found deregulated in other human cancers, such as members of the let-7 family, mir-221, and mir-145. In addition, the hepato-specific miR-122a was found down-regulated in approximately 70% of HCCs and in all HCC-derived cell lines. Microarray data for let-7a, mir-221, and mir-122a were validated by Northern blot and real-time PCR analysis. Understanding the contribution of deregulated miRNAs to cancer requires…

• AI
  Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro
• FI
  Fondazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro
• NC
  National Cancer Institute