The effect of ibuprofen on expression of Cox-1/2-related miRNAs in MKN- 45 -derived cancer stem-like cells

 Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory drug that non-selectively blocks cyclooxygenases-1/2 (COX-1/2) enzymes and thus reduces the risk tumorigenesis. This study was designed to detect microRNAs (miRNAs) that target Cox-1/2 mRNA and to investigate the effect of ibuprofen on the expression of the miRNAs in MKN-45-derived gastric cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs). We were also aimed to find signaling pathways modulated by the miRNAs. Subjects and

The miRWalk database was used to recognize miRNAs that targeted Cox-1/2 genes. CSLCs were derived from MKN-45 cell line and were then treated with ibuprofen. Consequently, the effect of ibuprofen was evaluated on the expression of the miRNAs by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Finally, DIANA tools were used to identify signaling pathways that modulated by the miRNAs.

Our bioinformatic investigation showed that hsa-mir-16-5p, hsa-mir-483-5p, and hsa-mir-4669 targeted both Cox-1 and Cox-2 mRNAs. The qRT-PCR results indicated that hsa-mir-16-5p and hsa-mir-4669 were overexpressed 2.34 and 9.47 folds, respectively, while hsa-mir-483-5p under-expressed (2.08 folds) in ibuprofen-treated CSLCs relative to untreated cells. Moreover, it found that these miRNAs are involved in PI3K-Akt, P53, transforming growth factor-beta, phosphatidylinositol and insulin signaling pathways, cell cycle, extracellular matrix receptor interaction, gap junction, small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, and chronic myeloid leukemia.

We suggest that ibuprofen may reduce the risk of gastric cancer by affecting the expression of miRNAs that target Cox-1/2. however, further research is necessary to unravel its exact effects.