miR-188-5p promotes oxaliplatin resistance by targeting RASA1 in colon cancer cells

The efficacy of chemotherapy for colon cancer is limited due to the development of chemoresistance. MicroRNA (miR)-188-5p is downregulated in various types of cancer. The aim of the present study was to explore the molecular role of miR-188 in oxaliplatin (OXA) resistance. An OXA-resistant colon cancer cell line, SW480/OXA, was used to examine the effects of miR-188-5p on the sensitivity of colon cancer cells to OXA. The target of miR-188-5p was identified using a luciferase assay. Cell cycle distribution was also assessed using flow cytometry. The measurement of p21 protein expression, Hoechst 33342 staining and Annexin V/propidium iodide staining was used to evaluate apoptosis. The expression of miR-188-5p significantly increased in SW480/OXA compared with wild-type SW480 cells. The luciferase assay demonstrated that miR-188-5p inhibited Ras GTPase-activating protein 1 (RASA1; also known as p120/RasGAP) luciferase activity by binding to the 3′-untranslated region of RASA1 mRNA, suggesting that miR-188-5p could target RASA1. In addition, miR-188-5p downregulation or RASA1 overexpression promoted the chemosensitivity of SW480/OXA, as evidenced by increased apoptosis and G₁/S cell cycle arrest. Moreover, RASA1 silencing abrogated the increase in cell apoptosis induced by the miR-188-5p inhibitor. The findings of the present study suggested that miR-188-5p could enhance colon cancer cell chemosensitivity by promoting the expression of RASA1.