Objective:

2

To investigate the effect of miR-483-5p on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells proliferation and stemness

as well as the attenuating effect of Pien Tze Huang (PZH).

Methods:

2

Differentially expressed miRNA between HepG2 cells and hepatic cancer stem-like cells (HCSCs) were identified by a miRNA microarray assay. miR-483-5p mimics were transfected into HepG2 cells to explore the effects of miR-483-5p on cell proliferation and stemness. HepG2 cells and HCSCs were treated with PZH (0

0.25

0.50 and 0.75 mg/mL) to explore the effects of PZH on the proliferation and stemness

both in non-induced state and the state induced by miR-483-5p mimics.

Results:

2

miR-483-5p was significantly up-regulated in HCSCs and its overexpression increased cell proliferation and stemness in HepG2 cells (

P

<

0.05). PZH not only significantly inhibited proliferation in HepG2 cells

but also significantly suppressed the cell proliferation and self-renewal of HCSCs (

P

<

0.05). The effects of miR-483-5p mimics on proliferation and stemness of HepG2 cells were partially abolished by PZH.

Conclusions:

2

miR-483-5p promotes proliferation and enhances stemness of HepG2 cells

which were attenuated by PZH

demonstrating that miR-483-5p is a potential molecular target for the treatment of HCC and provide experimental evidence to support clinical use of PZH for patients with HCC.