5D-F). In addition, the effect of recombinant FGF9 protein is also checked. Our results showed that 1 ng/mL recombinant FGF9 protein recovered the inhibition of wound healing, invasion, and proliferation of HCC cells by miR140-5p. (Supporting Fig 3). We also examined the protein levels of TGFb1 and FGF9 receptors (FGFR2 and FGFR3). The results

showed that the levels of these proteins in cells transfected with the miR-140-5p construct are the same as those in cells transfected with the control plasmid (Supporting Fig 4). In addition, knockdown of FGFR2, PD0325901 order FGFR3, and TGFb1 were also tested. Our data show that knockdown of FGF9 receptors inhibited the invasion and proliferation of HCCLM3 cells, while knockdown of TGFb1 just inhibited the invasion of HCCLM3 cells (Supporting Figs. 5, 6). To determine whether TGFBR1 and FGF9 regulate each other, we overexpressed TGFBR1 or FGF9 in HCCLM3 cells expressing miR-140-5p. Western

blot analysis showed that the expression of the endogenous FGF9 were up-regulated by overexpression of TGFBR1 in PD98059 cell line HCC cells expressing miR-140-5p (Supporting Fig. 7A). In contrast, the expression of endogenous TGFBR1 was not affected by overexpression of FGF9 (Supporting Fig. 7B). Moreover, TGFBR1-induced invasion of HCCLM3 cells was blocked by the FGF9 siRNA (Supporting Fig. 7C,D). Our data indicate that TGFBR1 is upstream of FGF9. Taken together, our data suggest that miR-140-5p suppresses tumor invasion and metastasis by targeting TGFBR1 and FGF9, and suppresses tumor proliferation by repressing FGF9 expression. It is well known that each subtype of HCC exhibits distinct clinicopathological and molecular characteristics.6 Previously, we defined a specific subtype of HCC termed SLHCC.5, 10 Interestingly, although SLHCC is larger in size, it showed similar outcomes as SHCC. Both of them are better than NHCC in terms of outcomes. Our findings do not support the concept that

large HCCs cannot be resected. According to this finding, many patients with SLHCC have been cured.5 Therefore, clarification of the molecular pathogenesis of HCC, especially SLHCC, is crucial for developing effective intervention and therapeutic strategies to improve the outcome of patients with this devastating disease. Recently, it has been revealed that altered expression of miRNAs contribute to the initiation Rapamycin purchase and progression of cancer.23-25 Studies have shown that more than 50% of miRNAs are located in cancer-associated genomic regions or in fragile sites.2 Takata et al.26 found that miR-140 acts as a liver tumor suppressor by controlling nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activity by way of directly targeting Dnmt1 mRNA. They validated that impaired miR-140 function leads to hepatocarcinogenesis,26 but its impact on HCC growth and metastasis is still unclear. In the present study, we performed a miRNA microarray to screen miRNAs relevant to HCC pathogenesis.