实时定量PCR检测miRNA-29a在肝癌中的变化

目的:探讨微小RNA(miRNA)-29a在正常人和原发性肝癌患者血清,以及原发性肝癌患者的正常肝脏组织和肝癌组织中的表达.方法:应用荧光实时定量PCR方法检测miRNA-29a,在正常人和原发性肝癌患者血清水平.同时收集并检测原发性肝癌患者术中取得的正常肝脏组织和癌症组织中miRNA-29a的含量.结果:1)与正常人血清相比,miRNA-29a在原发性肝癌患者血清中水平没有明显改变(P＞0.05).2)与正常肝脏组织相比,原发性肝癌患者肝癌组织中miRNA-125含量明显降低,有统计学差异(P＜0.01).结论:MiRNA-29a在原发性肝癌患者的肝癌组织中表达显著降低,但患者的血清水平并没有明显改变.     

CXCL1促进人肝癌细胞发生内质网应激

目的:探究趋化因子CXCL1过表达对人肝癌HepG2细胞内质网应激的影响。方法:将GFP-CXCL1质粒转染人肝癌HepG2细胞,荧光显微镜观察绿色荧光蛋白;将该质粒转染人肝癌HepG2细胞,24 h后收集细胞,提取细胞总mRNA后进行反转录,荧光定量PCR检测内质网应激相关蛋白IRE1、PERK、ATF6的表达。结果:CXCL1过表达后,通过荧光定量PCR检测出内质网应激相关蛋白IRE1、PERK、ATF6均升高。结论:过表达的CXCL1能够促进人肝癌HepG2细胞的内质网应激,为后续研究奠定了基础。     

miRNA-492在肝癌中表达变化的研究

目的:通过观察miRNA-492在肝细胞株L02、肝胚细胞瘤HepT1细胞株和肝癌SMMC-7721细胞株中的表达差异,以及在正常肝脏组织、肝母细胞瘤组织和原发性肝癌组织中的含量差异,探讨其与不同类型肝脏肿瘤发生发展的关系.方法:应用Real time-PCR方法检测miRNA-492在正常L02肝细胞株和肝癌HepT1、SMMC-7721细胞株的含量.同时采集和检测原发性肝癌患者术中取得的正常肝脏组织和癌症组织,以及肝母细胞瘤患者瘤组织的含量.结果:1)与正常人L02肝细胞相比,miRNA-492在肝癌HepT1细胞株中的表达显著升高(P＜0.001),但在SMMC-7721细胞株中略升高,无统计学差异.2)与正常肝脏组织相比,miRNA-492在肝母细胞瘤的瘤组织中含量显著升高(P＜0.01),但原发性肝癌的癌组织略升高,无统计学差异.结论:miRNA-492在不同肝癌细胞株中表达不同,在肝胚细胞瘤中表达升高,且在肝母细胞瘤瘤组织中的表达高于正常肝脏组织.但原发性肝癌癌组织中变化不明显,这说明miRNA-492与某些类型肝癌,特别是肝母细胞瘤的发生发展有关.     

CXCL1促进内质网应激在肝癌肿瘤微环境中传递

目的:研究趋化因子1(CXCL1)对肝癌肿瘤微环境中肿瘤细胞间及肿瘤细胞和巨噬细胞间内质网应激(ERS)的作用。方法:收集受衣霉素(TM)刺激的HepG2细胞的上清作为条件培养基,用于培养未受TM刺激的HepG2和THP-1细胞,检测培养基中未折叠蛋白反应(UPR)相关蛋白IRE1、PERK和ATF6的mRNA表达,构建ERS在细胞间传递的模型;合成si-CXCL1,瞬时转染HepG2细胞,RT-PCR检测HepG2细胞的CXCL1的转染效率,ELISA检测上清中CXCL1的表达水平;TM刺激CXCL1敲低的HepG2细胞,收集其上清用于培养未受TM刺激的HepG2和TPH-1细胞,RT-PCR检测HepG2细胞和THP-1细胞中UPR相关的IRE1、PERK及ATF6的mRNA表达。结果:用TM刺激后的条件培养基培养HepG2和TPH-1细胞时,2种细胞中的IRE1、PERK、ATF6表达均上调,构建了ERS在细胞间传递的模型;si-CXCL1转染HepG2细胞后,与对照组相比,si-CXCL1组HepG2细胞中CXCL1的表达降低,同时ELISA检测培养基中的CXCL1也降低;用TM刺激CXCL1敲低的HepG2细胞的上清培养未受TM刺激的HepG2和TPH-1细胞后,与对照组相比,CXCL1血清敲低组培养的细胞中IRE1、PERK和ATF6的mRNA水平均下降。结论:CXCL1能够促进肝癌肿瘤微环境中内质网应激在细胞间传递。     

S100A9促进肝癌细胞HepG2的存活与侵袭依赖于RAGE

目的:探讨S100A9对人肝癌细胞系HepG2生物学行为的影响及可能机制。方法:采用免疫组织化学法与Western blot方法检测人肝癌组织与癌旁组织中S100A9蛋白表达水平;原核表达重组蛋白的方法构建重组蛋白GST-S100A9,用GST-S100A9处理肝癌细胞HepG2和肝正常细胞L02,然后用MTT法检测细胞存活能力,Transwell侵袭实验检测细胞侵袭力;Western blot方法检测肝癌细胞HepG2与肝正常细胞L02中晚期糖基化终末产物受体(RAGE)的表达水平。结果:S100A9在人肝癌组织中的表达较癌旁组织显著增高;GST-S100A9可以促进肝癌细胞HepG2的存活与侵袭,但对肝正常细胞L02无作用;RAGE的表达在HepG2细胞中较在L02细胞中显著升高;RAGE阻断抗体可阻断GST-S100A9对HepG2细胞的促存活与促侵袭作用,表明这些作用是通过RAGE介导的。结论:S100A9促进肝癌细胞HepG2的存活与侵袭依赖于RAGE。     

Sirt1促进肝癌细胞增殖和侵袭活性的分子机制

目的:探讨Sirt1基因在肝癌组织和癌旁组织中表达差异,进一步检测其对肝癌细胞增殖和侵袭活性的调控.方法:收集30例肝癌手术患者的病变组织和癌旁组织,通过Real time-PCR检测Sirt1基因的表达差异,并对其中6例组织通过western blot验证.在转染Sirt1基因或干扰掉该基因后,采用MTT的方法检测HepG2细胞的增殖活性,通过Transwell小室的方法检测HepG2细胞的侵袭活性.结果:Real time-PCR检测发现Sirt1 mRNA在肝癌组织中高表达,同样,Western blot检测也发现Sirt1在肝癌组织中高表达,而在癌旁组织中表达较低.过表达Sirt1导致HepG2细胞过度增殖,侵袭能力增加;相反,敲除该基因,细胞增殖和侵袭活性被抑制.结论:Sirt1在肝癌组织中高表达并且介导肝癌细胞增殖和侵袭活性.该基因在肝癌组织中的过量表达有助于肝癌的临床诊断,同时Sirt1在肝癌的恶性肿瘤生物活性中发挥着重要的作用,因此,Sirt1是一个潜在的治疗肝癌的药物作用靶点,为开发新的抗肿瘤药物提供了新的治疗靶点.     

靶向干扰TAGLN表达对HBV阳性肝癌细胞生物学行为的影响及机制初探

目的:探究TAGLN对HBV阳性肝癌细胞HepG2. 2. 15生物学行为的影响及可能的作用机制。方法:免疫组化法和Western blot检测TAGLN在HBV阳性和HBV阴性肝癌组织及细胞中的表达差异;用TAGLN干扰慢病毒感染HepG2. 2. 15细胞,通过嘌呤霉素筛选干扰TAGLN表达的稳定表达细胞系,Western blot验证干扰效率; CCK-8法和克隆形成实验检测干扰TAGLN表达对HepG2. 2. 15细胞增殖能力的影响; Transwell实验检测干扰TAGLN表达对HepG2. 2. 15细胞迁移和侵袭的影响; Western blot检测PI3K、p-PI3K、AKT以及p-AKT的表达。结果:TAGLN在HBV阳性肝癌组织及细胞中的表达高于HBV阴性肝癌组织和细胞(P 0. 01);干扰TAGLN表达能抑制HepG2. 2. 15细胞增殖、克隆形成能力、迁移和侵袭(P 0. 01);降低HepG2. 2. 15细胞中PI3K和AKT(P 0. 01)及p-PI3K和p-AKT(P 0. 05)的表达。结论:在肝癌组织中,HBV感染能增加TAGLN的表达;干扰TAGLN表达后HepG2. 2. 15细胞的增殖能力、克隆形成能力、迁移和侵袭的能力减弱,其机制可能与PI3K及AKT的表达减少有关。     

长链非编码RNA H19促进肝癌细胞增殖和侵袭

目的:肝癌是严重危害人类健康的一类恶性肿瘤,但其发病机制目前仍不明确.虽然长链非编码RNA的异常表达与多种肿瘤的发生密切相关,但在肝癌中的报导尚不多见.因此,本文将探讨长链非编码RNA H19在肝癌组织和正常组织中表达差异,进一步检测其对肝癌细胞增殖和侵袭活性的调控及其分子机制,为开发长链非编码RNA的临床诊断试剂提供实验依据.方法:收集20例肝癌手术患者的癌变组织和20例正常组织,通过real time PCR检测H19的表达差异.在转染或干扰掉该H19后,采用MTT的方法检测HepG2细胞的增殖活性,通过Transwell小室的方法检测HepG2细胞的侵袭活性.结果:real time PCR检测发现H19 mRNA在肝癌组织中高表达,而在正常组织中低表达.过表达H19导致HepG2细胞过度增殖,敲除该lncRNA,细胞增殖和侵袭活性被抑制.结论:H19在肝癌组织中的表达明显高于正常肝组织,并且过表达H19导致肝癌细胞增殖活性增加,而敲除H19会导致肝癌细胞的增殖和侵袭活性明显减弱.该LncRNA在肝癌组织中的过量表达有助于肝癌的临床诊断,同时H19在肝癌的恶性肿瘤生物活性中发挥着重要的作用,因此,H19是一个潜在的治疗肝癌的药物作用靶点,为开发新的抗肿瘤药物提供了新的治疗靶点.     

白藜芦醇苷通过抑制长链非编码RNA HULC表达抑制肝癌SMMC-7721和HepG2细胞的增殖和侵袭

原发性肝癌是临床上最常见的恶性肿瘤之一,目前仍在寻找有效的治疗手段。我们之前的研究证实白藜芦醇苷能够抑制肝癌细胞的增殖和侵袭,但其具体的分子生物学机制仍不清楚。本文主要探讨白藜芦醇苷调控肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721和HepG2肝癌细胞系增殖能力的分子生物学机制。首先,我们构建大鼠原发性肝癌模型,发现模型组肝组织中长链非编码RNA HULC的表达较正常组明显升高;同时检测白藜芦醇苷预防组（分为低剂量组,中剂量组和高剂量组）肝组织中肝癌细胞中出现异常的高表达(HULC)的表达情况。结果显示,在中、高剂量组中HULC的表达明显降低。在体外实验中,SMMC7721和HepG2中HULC的表达明显较正常肝组织显著增高,然而白藜芦醇苷高剂量组中HULC的表达发生明显降低,同时在SMMC7721和HepG2中加入白藜芦醇苷后,高剂量组中细胞增殖能力明显下降。为了进一步探究HULC在白藜芦醇苷预防肝癌中的功能,我们构建了HULC过表达质粒以及针对HULC的siRNA片段,并验证了过表达和敲低的效率。在使用高剂量白藜芦醇苷处理SMMC7721和HepG2的同时,过表达HULC能够逆转白藜芦醇苷引起的对细胞增殖的抑制,然而敲低HULC则能够更加有效地降低白藜芦醇苷对细胞增殖的抑制效果。这提示我们白藜芦醇苷能够可能通过调控HULC的表达抑制肝癌细胞的增殖和侵袭,二者具有协同作用。本文结果为预防原发性肝癌提供了新的理论依据但其临床疗效还需要进一步验证。     

内质网应激对肝癌细胞中趋化因子表达的影响

目的:探讨肝癌细胞发生内质网应激时,细胞中趋化因子的表达情况。方法:培养HepG2细胞,用荧光定量PCR检测经不同浓度衣霉素(TM)刺激后,趋化因子CXCL1、CXCL2、CXCL3、CXCL8的mRNA水平,用ELISA方法检测培养基中的CXCL1含量。结果:TM刺激Hep G2细胞后,CXCL1、CXCL2、CXCL3的mRNA水平显著升高,而CXCL8的mRNA水平降低,其中CXCL1的mRNA水平呈剂量依赖性。结论:内质网应激影响细胞内趋化因子的表达,不同因子的表达趋势有差别。     

RNA干扰肝细胞肝癌中PECAM-1的表达对肿瘤细胞侵袭及增殖的影响

目的:探讨PECAM-1在肝细胞肝癌(Hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)组织中的表达及意义。方法:选择2013年5月-2015年6月在我院接受治疗的HCC患者100例,收集肝癌患者HCC组织及癌旁组织,另选取100例正常肝脏组织作为对照组。应用免疫组织化学法检测PECAM-1在肝癌组织、癌旁组织以及正常肝脏组织中的阳性表达。利用小分子干扰RNA技术(si RNA)构建低表达的PECAM-1,并转染至肝癌细胞中抑制PECAM-1的表达。应用Transwell小室法检测肝癌细胞的侵袭能力,CCK-8法检测肝癌细胞的增殖能力。结果:PECAM-1在肝癌组织、癌旁组织及正常肝脏组织中呈不同程度阳性表达(P0.05);PECAM-1在肝癌组织及癌旁组织中的表达显著高于正常肝脏组织,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);PECAM-1在肝癌组织中的表达显著高于癌旁组织,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);转染si RNA PECAM-1后,肝癌细胞中PECAM-1 m RNA的表达水平明显下降,PECAM-1蛋白表达也明显降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);转染si RNA PECAM-1后,肝癌细胞侵袭及增殖能力明显降低,差异具有统计学意义(P0.001)。结论:PECAM-1在肝癌患者血清中高表达,PECAM-1 si RNA能够抑制肝癌细胞的侵袭及增殖能力,提示PECAM-1可作为预测肝癌发生及发展的临床指标。     

肝脱细胞基质溶液包被对HepG2细胞增殖及基质金属蛋白酶活性的影响

目的:建立由猪肝组织制备肝脱细胞基质溶液的新方法,并研究基质溶液包被对人肝癌细胞HepG2增殖及基质金属蛋白酶活性的影响。方法:对猪肝脏进行脱细胞处理,经研磨、冻干及胃蛋白酶消化制备肝脱细胞基质溶液,利用此基质溶液包被聚苯乙烯培养表面,进行HepG2细胞体外培养,并使用CCK-8、实时定量PCR、明胶酶谱等检测细胞增殖以及基质金属蛋白酶的基因表达和活性。结果:建立了由猪肝组织制备肝脱细胞基质溶液的新方法。与未包被组相比,脱细胞基质溶液包被培养显著促进HepG2细胞增殖,其细胞周期蛋白cyclin D1的基因表达增高,为未包被组的1.95倍(P0.01)。此外,脱细胞基质溶液包被组HepG2细胞的MMP14基因表达为未包被组的2.01倍(P0.05),明胶酶谱检测基质溶液包被组细胞的MMP9活性为未包被组的6.66倍(P0.01)。结论:肝脱细胞基质溶液包被培养可显著促进HepG2细胞增殖并提高其MMP9的活性,在构建模拟肝癌微环境培养体系中具有一定的应用潜力。     

Bmi1在肝癌组织中的表达及其与细胞增殖和凋亡的关系

目的：探讨Bmi1在肝细胞肝癌（HCC）中的表达及与增殖和凋亡的关系。方法：收集HCC标本54例及相应的癌旁组织,10例正常肝组织标本,采用免疫组织化学EnVision二步法显示Bmi1的表达并结合增殖与凋亡特征进行分析。结果：在肝癌组织、癌旁组织细胞中Bmi1表达定位于胞核中,阳性表达率分别为79.6%（43/54）,31.2%（17/54）,10例正常肝组织未见表达,3组差异有统计学意义（P〈0.005）。HCC中Bmi1的高表达与年龄、性别、肿瘤大小、肿瘤数目、临床TNM分期、是否有肝硬化及是否有HBsAg感染无显著相关（P〉0.05）,但与组织学分级有关,高、中分化组Bmi1表达率显著高于低分化组（P〈0.05）。肝癌Bmi1阳性组增殖指数（PI）（50.3±21.4）%显著高于阴性表达组（17.3±7.1）%（P〈0.05）,凋亡指数（AI）无明显差异（P〉0.05）。结论：Bmi1在HCC中高表达,其表达增高可能与HCC的进展相关。     

HBO1 overexpression is important for hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common primary liver malignancy lacking effective molecularly-targeted therapies. HBO1 (lysine acetyltransferase 7/KAT7) is a member of MYST histone acetyltransferase family. Its expression and potential function in HCC are studied. We show that HBO1 mRNA and protein expression is elevated in human HCC tissues and HCC cells. HBO1 expression is however low in cancer-surrounding normal liver tissues and hepatocytes. In HepG2 and primary human HCC cells, shRNA-induced HBO1 silencing or CRISPR/Cas9-induced HBO1 knockout potently inhibited cell viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion, while provoking mitochondrial depolarization and apoptosis induction. Conversely, ectopic overexpression of HBO1 by a lentiviral construct augmented HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. In vivo, xenografts-bearing HBO1-KO HCC cells grew significantly slower than xenografts with control HCC cells in severe combined immunodeficient mice. These results suggest HBO1 overexpression is important for HCC cell progression.Subject terms: Targeted therapies, Oncogenes     

Liver regeneration associated protein (ALR) exhibits antimetastatic potential in hepatocellular carcinoma

Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR), which is critically important in liver regeneration and hepatocyte proliferation, is highly expressed in cirrhotic livers and hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). In the current study, the functional role of ALR in hepatocancerogenesis was analyzed in more detail. HepG2 cells, in which the cytosolic 15 kDa ALR isoform was reexpressed stably, (HepG2-ALR) were used in migration and invasion assays using modified Boyden chambers. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were determined in HepG2-ALR cells in vitro and in HepG2-ALR tumors grown in nude mice. ALR protein was quantified in HCC and nontumorous tissues by immunohistochemistry. HepG2-ALR, compared with HepG2 cells, demonstrated reduced cell motility and increased expression of the epithelial cell markers E-cadherin and Zona occludens-1 (ZO-1), whereas SNAIL, a negative regulator of E-cadherin, was diminished. Matrix metalloproteinase MMP1 and MMP3 mRNA expression and activity were reduced. HepG2-ALR cell-derived subcutaneously grown tumors displayed fewer necrotic areas, more epithelial-like cell growth and fewer polymorphisms and atypical mitotic figures than tumors derived from HepG2 cells. Analysis of tumor tissues of 53 patients with HCC demonstrated an inverse correlation of ALR protein with histological angioinvasion and grading. The 15 kDa ALR isoform was found mainly in HCC tissues without histological angioinvasion 0. In summary the present data indicate that cytosolic ALR reduces hepatoma cell migration, augments epithelial growth and, therefore, may act as an antimetastatic and EMT reversing protein.     

The expression levels of the translational factors eEF1A 1/2 correlate with cell growth but not apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines with different differentiation grade

Despite the involvement of the elongation factors eEF1A (eEF1A1 and eEF1A2) in the development of different cancers no information is available on their possible contribution to the biology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the expression of both forms of eEF1A in HepG2 and JHH6 cell lines considered to be a good in vitro model of HCC at different stage of differentiation. Our data indicate that the mRNA amount of eEF1A1 is increased in both cell lines as compared to normal liver tissue, but eEF1A2 mRNA level is markedly increased only in JHH6. Moreover, the less differentiated cell line JHH6 displays higher EEF1A1 and EEF1A2 mRNAs levels and an higher nuclear-enriched/cytoplasm ratio of EEF1A protein compared to the better differentiated HepG2 cell line. Over-expression depends only partially on gene amplification. The more abundant mRNA levels and the higher nuclear-enriched/cytoplasm ratio of eEF1A in JHH6 neither correlate with apoptosis resistance nor with proliferation rate in sub-confluent cells. However, in confluent cells, a clear tendency to maintain JHH6 into the cell cycle was observed. In conclusion, we document the increased mRNA levels of EEF1A genes in HCC cell lines compared to normal liver. Additionally, we show the increased nuclear-enriched/cytoplasmic protein ratio of eEF1A and the marked raise of the expression of both eEF1A forms in JHH6 compared to HepG2, suggesting the possibility that eEF1A forms might become a relevant markers related to HCC tumor phenotype.     

The role of EGF‐EGFR signalling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma inflammatory microenvironment

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and their receptor (EGFR) play an important role in the development of cancer proliferation, and metastasis, although the mechanism remains unclear. The present study aimed at investigating the role of EGF‐EGFR signalling pathway in the development of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) inflammatory environment. Gene profiles of inflammatory cytokines from HCC were measured. Cell bio‐behaviours of HCC with low or high metastasis were detected by the live cell monitoring system. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK8. The protein level of CXCL5 and CXCL8 was measured by ELISA. The phosphorylation of PI3K, ERK, MAPK was measured by western blot. EGF significantly induced cell proliferation in HepG2 cells, but not in HCCLM3 cells. EGF prompted the cell movement in both HepG2 and HCCLM3 and regulated the production of CXCL5 and CXCL8 from HCC, which were inhibited by EGFR inhibitor, Erk inhibitor (U0126), or PI3K inhibitors (BEZ‐235 and SHBM1009). HCC proliferation, metastasis and production of inflammatory cytokines were regulated via EGF‐EGFR signal pathways. CXCL5 could interact with CXCL8, possibly by CXCR2 or the cross‐talk between CXCR2 and EGFR. EGF‐EGFR signaling pathway can be the potential target of therapies for HCC.     

Anticancer effects of echinacoside in hepatocellular carcinoma mouse model and HepG2 cells

Echinacoside (ECH) is a phenylethanoid glycoside extracted from a Chinese herbal medicine, Cistanches salsa. ECH possesses many biological properties, including anti-inflammation, neural protection, liver protection, and antitumor. In the current study, we aimed to explore the effects of ECH on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that ECH could attenuate diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC in mice, and exerted antiproliferative and proapoptotic functions on HepG2 HCC cell line. ECH exposure in HepG2 cells dose-dependently reduced the phosphorylation of AKT (p-AKT) and enhanced the expression of p21 (a cell cycle inhibitor) and Bax (a proapoptotic protein). Furthermore, ECH significantly suppressed insulin-like growth factor-1-induced p-AKT and cell proliferation. These data indicated that phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling was involved in the anti-HCC activity of ECH. Gene set enrichment analysis results revealed a positive correlation between the PI3K pathway and triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) expression in HCC tissues. ECH exposure significantly decreased TREM2 protein levels in HepG2 cells and DEN-induced HCC. Furthermore, ECH-mediated proliferation inhibition and AKT signaling inactivation were notably attenuated by TREM2 overexpression. In conclusion, ECH exerted its antitumor activity via decreasing TREM2 expression and PI3K/AKT signaling.     

Lentivirus-mediated overexpression of microRNA-199a inhibits cell proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma

microRNA-199a (miR-199a) is a highly conserved miRNA, always deregulated in numerous human tumors. The results of microarray analysis indicated that miR-199a was frequently downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The expression levels of miR-199a in 11 pairs of matched HCC neoplastic and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues, 5 HCC cell lines and liver cell line L02 were examined by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. We found miR-199a was significantly down-regulated in HCC tissues when compared with pair-matched adjacent non-tumor tissues. We also found the expression level of miR-199a was also substantially decreased in several human HCC cell lines including SMMC-7721, BEL-7402, BEL-7701, MHCC97H, and HepG2. To investigate the role of miR-199a in tumorigenesis, we developed a lentiviral vector for the expression of pre-miR-199a (Lenti-miR-199a). Lenti-miR-199a inhibited HCC cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Compared to parental cells or cells transfected with a control vector, the overexpression of microRNA-199a in the HCC cell lines HepG2 stably was showed to reduce cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Luciferase reporter assay revealed the regulation of miR-199a on 3’-UTR of HIF-1α. Further investigation confirmed that miR-199a significantly reduced the endogenous protein level of HIF-1α in hypoxia. MiR-199a inhibits cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo partly through down-regulation of HIF-1α in human HCC. Thus, these studies provide an important new insight into the pathogenesis of human HCC and it may open a new perspective for the development of effective gene therapy for human HCC.