Differential Expression of DDX3 and microRNAs in Response to Hormone and Cisplatin Against Cervical Cancer

Objectives: To discover micro ribonucleic acids (miRNAs) involved in the regulation of DDX3 expression using sexual hormones in combination with the well-known anticancer medication cisplatin. Methods: SiHa cells were treated with estradiol, dihydrotestosterone, and cisplatin and evaluated the expression of ER beta, Ki67, and DDX3 via quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. We generated a chimeric fusion construct five untranslated region (UTR)–hLUC–3UTR in the pEZX-MT06 miRNA vector under the control of the SV40 promoter. Reporter activity is measured with/without hormones, and their activity is compared with 5'- and 3'-UTR respectively. Various reporter deletion constructs were generated to identify the minimal UTR region in regulating the expression of DDX3. We identified the potential miRNA binding sites on the DDX3 UTR region, and their expression is monitored in cancer patients and cisplatin-treated SiHa cells. Results: Hormones increased the proliferation of SiHa cells and expression of DDX3. The 3'-UTR region 2135–4307bp contains miRNA sites that regulate DDX3 expression. miRNAs hsa-miR-671-5p, hsa-miR-361-5p, hsa-miR-140-5p, hsa-miR-564, and hsa-miR-769-5p downregulated in patient samples but upregulated in cisplatin-treated cells. miRNA hsa-miR-671-5p and hsa-miR-564 were associated with patient data and cisplatin-treated cancer cells. Conclusion: We discovered that sexual hormones enhanced DDX3 expression in SiHa cells. MiR-671-5p and miR-564 are two potential therapeutic miRNAs that can be used to treat DDX3-related malignancies.