Propofol Inhibits Thyroid Cancer Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion by Suppressing SHH and PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathways via the miR-141-3p/BRD4 Axis

OBJECTIVE: This study explores the effect and mechanism of propofol for thyroid tumor. METHODS: Culture human normal thyroid cells Nthy-ori 3-1 and thyroid cancer cell line TPC-1. TPC-1 cells were divided into the propofol group (treated with propofol), miR-141-3p group (transfected with the miR-141-3p mimic), negative control group (transfected with miR-NC), miR-141-3p + pcDNA-BRD4 group (transfected with the miR-141-3p mimic and pcDNA-BRD4), miR-141-3p + pcDNA group (transfected with the miR-141-3p mimic and pcDNA), siBRD4 group (transfected with siBRD4), and si-control group (transfected with si-control). The detection of miR-141-3p and BRD4 expression in cells was done by RT-qPCR, and the dual-luciferase reporter gene method and western blotting were used to verify the targeting relationship between miR-141-3p and BRD4. MTT method was used to test cell proliferation, transwell method was used to test cell migration and invasion, and western blotting was used to test SHH, GLI1, p-PI3K, and p-AKT protein expression. RESULTS: Compared with Nthy-ori 3-1 cells, the expression of miR-141-3p in TPC-1 cells was markedly decreased. Propofol treatment and excessive expression of miR-141-3p could influence the phenotype of TPC-1 cells. BRD4 is one of the target genes of miR-141-3p, and its expression is negatively regulated by miR-141-3p. Overexpression of BRD4 can partially reverse the restraining effect of miR-141-3p on the TPC-1 cell phenotype. Both miR-141-3p and BRD4 can regulate the activity of SHH and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: Propofol can inhibit the activity of SHH and PI3K/AKT pathways by targeting downregulating BRD4 through miR-141-3p, thereby inhibiting the phenotype of TPC-1 cells.