Low-Temperature Plasma Suppresses Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis in Lung Cancer Cells by Regulating the miR-203a/BIRC5 Axis

Yang Yang,1 Dan Li,2 Yulong Li,3 Qiuyu Jiang,4 Ruifang Sun,5 Jinren Liu,1 Fei Wu,4 Jiyu Miao,4 Lei Ni,4 Xingmin Shi,1 Chen Huang4 1Department of Toxicology and Sanitary Analysis, School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yan’an 716000, Shanxi Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Gastroenterology, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an 710068, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, People’s Republic of China; 5Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xingmin ShiSchool of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Yanta Western Road 76, Xi’an 710061, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail shixingmin142@163.comChen HuangXi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Yanta Western Road 76, Xi’an 710061, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-29-82655077Email hchen@mail.xjtu.edu.cnAim: Low-temperature plasma (LTP) has potential applications in cancer therapy. Herein, we explored the molecular mechanisms of proliferation inhibition induced by LTP.Methods: LTP was generated by a helium atmospheric-pressure plasma jet and used to treat A549 and H1299 cells. CCK-8 and cell apoptosis assays were performed to evaluate the effects of LTP treatment on A549 and H1299 cells. The qRT-PCR was performed to measure the expression of miR-203a after treating with LTP. CCK-8, colony formation, cell apoptosis assays, and Western blotting were performed to analyse the function of miR-203a in the development of lung cancer. Dual-luciferase assay and Western blotting were used to probe the relationship between miR-203a and BIRC5, and gene silencing using si-BIRC5 was carried out to explore the effect of knocking down BIRC5 on lung cancer cells.Results: We found that LTP significantly suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis in A549 and H1299 cells. The miR-203a expression was increased after cells were treated with LTP. The miR-203a expression was downregulated among lung cancer tissue samples, and overexpression of miR-203a suppressed cell growth and induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells. We showed that miR-203a targeted BIRC5. Moreover, silencing of BIRC5 caused proliferation inhibition and induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells.Conclusion: Our study revealed that LTP inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in A549 and H1299 cells through the miR-203a/BIRC5 axis. These findings showed that LTP could potentially be used to treat lung cancer.Keywords: low-temperature plasma, lung cancer, proliferation, miR-203a, BIRC5