MicroRNA-320 Enhances Radiosensitivity of Glioma Through Down-Regulation of Sirtuin Type 1 by Directly Targeting Forkhead Box Protein M1

Glioma is the most common cancer in human brain system and seriously threatens human health. miRNA-320 has been demonstrated to be closely correlated with the development of glioma. However, its effect and molecular mechanism underlying radioresistance have not been fully elucidated in glioma. Here, RT-qPCR assay was used to assess the expressions of miR-320 and forkhead box protein M1 (FoxM1) mRNA in glioma tumor tissues and cells. The effects of miR-320, FoxM1 and sirtuin type 1 (Sirt1) on radiosensitivity in glioma cells were evaluated by clone formation assay, apoptosis assay, histone H2AX phosphorylation level (γH2AX) detection and caspase 3 activity analysis, respectively. The direct interaction between miR-320 and FoxM1 was detected by luciferase assay. The protein levels of FoxM1, Sirt1 and γH2AX were measured by western blot assay. We found that miR-320 expression was down-regulated and FoxM1 expression was up-regulated in radioresistant glioma tissues and IR-treated glioma cells. miR-320 overexpression dramatically enhanced radiosensitivity, promoted apoptosis, and improved γH2AX expression and caspase 3 activity in glioma cells. Luciferase reporter assay and western blot assay further validated that miR-320 suppressed FoxM1 expression by directly targeting 3’ UTR region of FoxM1. Moreover, miR-320 inhibited Sirt1 expression via targeting FoxM1 in glioma cells. Furthermore, overexpression of FoxM1 and Sirt1 strikingly attenuated miR-320-induced increase of radiosensitivity, apoptosis and γH2AX expression in glioma cells. In conclusion, miR-320 enhanced radiosensitivity of glioma cells through down-regulation of Sirt1 by directly targeting FoxM1.