MiR-129 regulates cisplatin-resistance in human gastric cancer cells by targeting P-gp

Development of multiple drug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy is the major reason for the failure of gastric cancer (GC) treatment. P-glycoprotein (P-gp), which is encoded by MDR gene 1, as one of the mechanisms responsible for MDR. Mounting evidence has demonstrated that the drug-induced dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) function may mediate MDR in cancer cells. However, the underling mechanisms of miRNA-mediated MDR in GC remain unclear. Here, we found that miR-129 was downregulated in cisplatin-resistant GC tissues/cells. Our results also showed that overexpression of miR-129 decreased cisplatin-resistance in cisplatin-resistant GC cells, and miR-129 knockdown reduced chemosensitivity to cisplatin in cisplatin-sensitive GC cells. Furthermore, miR-129 activated the intrinsic apoptotic pathway via upregulating caspase-9 and caspase-3. Most importantly, we further confirmed that P-gp is the functional target of miR-129 by regulating cisplatin-resistance in GC cells. These results suggested that miR-129 reversed cisplatin-resistance through inhibiting the P-gp expression in GC cells.