HIF-1α regulates miR-210 to affect biological behavior of breast cancer cells

Background: Rapidly growing tumors outstrip their vascular supply and become hypoxic, and hypoxia is the characteristic of most solid tumors. Hypoxia related to tumor invasion, angiogenesis and apoptosis, it increased the risk of metastasis and affected the prognosis. As a hypoxia inducible product, HIF-1 alpha and miR-210 expressions significantly up-regulated in the breast cancer tissues, and were closely related to the occurrence, development and the prognosis of breast cancer. This study explored the regulatory effect of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) on microRNA-210 (miR-210) and its impact on proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Methods: Plasmid DNA expressing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting HIF-1 alpha was constructed and transfected into MCF-7 cells by Lipofectamine 2000. The expression level of gene and protein HIF-1 alpha and miR-210 were detected by quantitative Real-time PCR technology or Western blot, respectively. Effect of Effect of HIF-1 alpha gene knockdown on MCF-7 cells was also investigated. Results: Knockdown of HIF-1 alpha gene decreased expression level of miR-210, weakened the ability of cell proliferative and invasion, and increased apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. Conclusion: HIF-1 alpha may affect growth and invasion of breast cancer through positive regulation of miR-210 expression.