Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Nevertheless, the mechanism of miR-7-5p in HCC cells has not been researched. In the research, the underlying biological function of miR-7-5p and SPC24 in HCC was explored. qRT-PCR was performed to measure the miR-7-5p and SPC24 level in HCC tissues and cells. The effect of miR-7-5p on HCC progression was detected by performing CCK-8, BrdU, and transwell assay. The relationship between miR-7-5p and SPC24 was determined using luciferase and RNA pull-down assays. Our findings showed that miR-7-5p was downregulated in HCC whereas SPC24 was upregulated in HCC. It was also showed that miR-7-5p upregulation restricted malignant behaviors of HCC cells, but this inhibitory effect of miR-7-5p could be relieved by its target gene SPC24. In conclusion, this research suggested that by inhibiting SPC24, miR-7-5p could act as a tumor inhibitory factor in HCC.