miR-27a is highly expressed in H1650 cancer stem cells and regulates proliferation, migration, and invasion.

TLDR: It is demonstrated that H1650 CD133+ CD34− cells have CSC characteristics and found that miR-27a was highly expressed in H 1650, which may be a potential target for NSCLC therapy.

Abstract: Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for tumor relapse after chemotherapy and radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study is to explore the profile and role of microRNA (miRNA) in CSC of NSCLC. Materials and Methods: We studied the expression of stem cell marker in side population cells and serum-free cultured spheres of NSCLC. We identified that CD133+ CD34− cells are NSCLC stem cell. We isolated CD133+ CD34− cells and CD133− CD34+ cells with MicroBead Kit. We verified that H1650 CD133+ CD34− cells have CSC characteristics with doxorubicin, radiation, and xenograft. We studied miRNA expression profile in H1650 and HCC827 CD133+ CD34− cells with microarray analysis. We detected proliferation, migration, and invasion with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, scratch test, and Transwell chamber invasion assay, respectively. Results: CD133 and CD34 are CSC markers in H1650. We demonstrated that H1650 CD133+ CD34− cells have CSC characteristics and found that miR-27a was highly expressed in H1650 CD133+ CD34− cells. In addition, we showed that miR-27a regulates proliferation, migration, and invasion in H1650 cell line and demonstrated that miR-27a expression was positively related to epidermal growth factor receptor in NSCLC cell lines. Conclusions: CD133+ CD34− is a CSC marker in H1650. miR-27a is highly expressed in H1650 CSCs and regulates cancer development in H1650. miR-27a may be a potential target for NSCLC therapy.