miR-503 inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells by targeting E2F3.

OBJECTIVE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the major healthcare problems worldwide. A lot of miRNAs are aberrantly expressed in CRC and involved in its development and progression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and function of miR-503 in CRC. METHODS: miR-503 expression was detected in CRC tissues and cell lines by Quantitative real-time PCR. Cell proliferation was assessed by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis and cell cycle distribution were measured by flow cytometry. Moreover, luciferase reporter assay and western blot were performed to determine the potential target of miR-503 in CRC cells. RESULTS: miR-503 was significantly decreased in CRC tissues and cell lines in comparison with controls. Overexpression of miR-503 in CRC cells remarkably inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, E2F3 was identified as a direct target of miR-503 in CRC cells and down-regulation of E2F3 had a similar effect as miR-503 overexpression on CRC cells. In addition, the expression of E2F3 was negatively correlated with miR-503 level in CRC tissues. CONCLUSIONS: miR-503 inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis by directly targeting E2F3 in CRC cells, indicating its potential application in CRC diagnosis and therapy.

Peripheral blood cell variations in cirrhotic portal hypertension patients with hypersplenism.

OBJECTIVE: To explore peripheral blood cell variations in hepatic cirrhosis portal hypertension patients with hypersplenism. METHODS: Clinical data of 322 hypersplenism patients with decreased peripheral blood cells, admitted with cirrhotic portal hypertension, was retrospectively studied over the last 17 years. RESULTS: In 64% (206/322) of patients, more than 2 kinds of blood cell were decreased, including 89 cases of pancytopenia (43.2%), 52 cases of WBC + PLT decrease (25.2%), 29 cases of RBC + PLT decrease (14.1%), and 36 cases of WBC + RBC decrease (17.5%); in 36% (116/322) of patients, single type blood cell decrease occurred, including 31 cases of PLT decrease (26.7%), 29 cases of WBC decrease (25%) and 56 cases of RBC decrease (48.3%). Of 227 routine bone marrow examinations, bone marrow hyperplasia was observed in 118 cases (52.0%), the remainder showed no hyperplasia. For the distinct scope and extent of peripheralblood cell decreases, preoperative blood component transfusions were carried out, then treated by surgery, after whole group splenectomy, the peripheral blood cell count was significantly higher (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Of portal hypertensive patients with splenomegaly and hypersplenism, 64% have simultaneous decrease in various blood cells, 36% have decrease in single type blood cells, 52% of patients have bone marrow hyperplasia. A splenectomy can significantly increase the reduction of peripheral blood cells.