miR-223-3p Regulates NLRP3 to Inhibit Proliferation and Promote Apoptosis of ONG Cells

OBJECTIVE: Optic nerve glioma (ONG) is a rare disease, defined as a WHO grade I tumor, which affects the visual pathway. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of miR-223-3p in ONG as well as its function and regulation in ONG cell lines. METHODS: qRT-PCR assays were used to measure miR-223-3p expression in ONG tissues and cell lines. After overexpression of miR-223-3p in Hs683 and WERI-Rb-1 cell lines, CCK-8 and EdU assays were performed to examine cell proliferation, and flow cytometry was used to assess apoptosis. Dual luciferase assays were utilized to identify the target binding to miR-223-3p and NLRP3. Rescue assays were carried out to investigate the regulatory mechanism of miR-223-3p acting through NLRP3. Nude mouse tumorigenesis assays were established to verify the effect of miR-223-3p on ONG growth. RESULTS: miR-223-3p was weakly expressed in both ONG tissues and cell lines. miR-223-3p inhibited the proliferative ability of Hs683 and WERI-Rb-1 cell lines and promoted apoptosis. In addition, there was binding between miR-223-3p and NLRP3. Simultaneous overexpression of NLRP3 and miR-223-3p partially counteracted the role of miR-223-3p in the cell lines. Lastly, miR-223-3p inhibited ONG growth. CONCLUSION: miR-223-3p plays an inhibitory role in ONG development by regulating NLRP3 to inhibit the proliferation of ONG cells and promote apoptosis.