Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the role of apigenin and the molecular mechanism of miR-152-5p and bromodomain containing 4 (BRD4) in the proliferation, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cervical carcinoma cells. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the transfection efficiency and the expression of miR-152-5p and BRD4. Western blotting was conducted to evaluate the protein level of BRD4, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and MMP9. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to confirm whether miR-152-5p bound to BRD4. MTT and Transwell invasion assay were applied to determine the cell proliferation and invasion, respectively. MiR-152-5p was downregulated and BRD4 was upregulated in cervical carcinoma tissue. Besides, miR-152-5p could directly bind to BRD4 in Hela and CaSki cells. In addition, apigenin inhibited proliferation, invasion, and EMT of Hela and CaSki cells by regulating miR-152-5p/BRD4 axis. Apigenin suppresses proliferation, invasion, and induced EMT of cervical carcinoma cells by regulation of miR-152-5p/BRD4 axis.