miR-205-5p downregulation decreases gemcitabine sensitivity of breast cancer cells via ERp29 upregulation

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, and the incidence and mortality rates are increasing every year. Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) is an important step in the initiation and development of breast cancer. Previous studies demonstrated that miR-205-5p is closely associated with occurrence and development of breast cancer; however, underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays were used to analyze miR-195-5p and endoplasmic reticulum protein 29 (ERp29) levels in breast cancer and matched normal tissues. Western blot analysis was performed to analyze ERp29 and heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) protein expression levels. Cell viability, flow cytometry and luciferase reporter assay were used to examine cell proliferation, apoptosis and direct miRNA-mRNA binding, respectively. The results revealed that miR-205-5p expression in breast cancer tissues and cell lines was decreased compared with normal tissues and a normal cell line. Overexpression of miR-205-5p significantly augmented cytotoxicity effects of gemcitabine treatment in MDA-MB-231 and BT549 cells. It was observed that miR-205-5p negatively regulated ERp29 expression in breast cancer cells. Dual luciferase assays confirmed that ERp29 was a target of miR-205-5p in breast cancer cells. Additionally, following the established gemcitabine-resistant MDA-MB-231 cells (MDA-MB-231/GEM), ERp29 and HSP27 expression was upregulated and miR-205-5p was downregulated compared with parental cells. Overexpression of miR-205-5p reversed gemcitabine resistance in MDA-MB-231/GEM cells. In conclusion, the present study indicated that miR-205-5p may inhibit gemcitabine resistance in breast cancer cells via inhibition of ERp29 expression.