miR-96-5p Suppresses the Progression of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma by Targeting CDK1

Inhibition of miR-96-5p alleviates intervertebral disc degeneration by regulating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ/nuclear factor-kappaB pathway

BACKGROUND

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is the main pathogenesis of low back pain. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been found to exert regulatory function in IDD. This study aimed to investigate the effect and potential mechanism of miR-96-5p in IDD.

METHODS

In vitro cell model of IDD was established by treating human nucleus pulposus cells (HNPCs) with interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) was examined in the IDD cell model by Western blot and quantification real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression level of miR-96-5p was detected by RT-qPCR. Effects of PPARγ or/and PPARγ agonist on inflammatory factors, extracellular matrix (ECM), apoptosis, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) nuclear translocation were examined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, flow cytometry assay, and immunofluorescence staining. The Starbase database and dual luciferase reporter assay were used to predict and validate the targeting relationship between miR-96-5p and PPARγ, and rescue assay was performed to gain insight into the role of miR-96-5p on IDD through PPARγ/NF-κB signaling.

RESULTS

PPARγ expression reduced with concentration and time under IL-1β stimulation, while miR-96-5p expression showed the reverse trend (P < 0.05). Upregulation or/and activation of PPARγ inhibited IL-1β-induced the increase in inflammatory factor levels, apoptosis, degradation of the ECM, and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB (P < 0.05). MiR-96-5p was highly expressed but PPARγ was lowly expressed in IDD, while knockdown of PPARγ partially reversed remission of IDD induced by miR-96-5p downregulation (P < 0.05). MiR-96-5p promoted NF-κB entry into the nucleus but PPARγ inhibited this process.

CONCLUSION

Inhibition of miR-96-5p suppressed IDD progression by regulating the PPARγ/NF-κB pathway. MiR-96-5p may be a promising target for IDD treatment clinically.

Progress in the study of FOXO3a interacting with microRNA to regulate tumourigenesis development

FOXO3a is a protein of the forkhead box family that inhibits tumour cell growth. One of the regulatory modes affecting the role of FOXO3a is microRNA targeting and degradation of its mRNA expression, and conversely, aberrant expression of FOXO3a as a transcription factor also influences microRNA levels. We summarized the results of the regulatory interactions of twenty-five microRNAs with FOXO3a in five types of malignant tumours and found that dual microRNAs synergize with FOXO3a to inhibit breast cancer cell growth including two groups; Three individual microRNAs collaborated with FOXO3a to restrain hepatocellular carcinoma progression; Twelve individual microRNAs antagonized FOXO3a to promote the development of a single tumour cell, respectively; and five microRNAs antagonized FOXO3a to contribute to the progression of more than two types of tumours. The above findings demonstrated the tumour suppressor effect of FOXO3a, but another result revealed that miR-485-5p and miR-498 inhibited the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by antagonizing FOXO3a when acting in combination with other long-stranded non-coding RNAs, respectively, suggesting that FOXO3a at this moment plays the function of promoting the tumour progression. The PI3K/AKT, Snail, VEGF-NRP1, and Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathways perform crucial roles in the above process. It is anticipated that the above studies will assist in understanding the effects of FOXO3a-MicroRNA interactions in cancer genesis and development, and provide new perspectives in the treatment of malignant tumours.

Circ_TEX2 Functions as a Tumor Suppressor in Hepatoma via miR-96-5p/SPRED1 Axis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to have a vital effect on hepatoma progression. The purpose of this study was to explore the function and mechanism of circRNA testis expressed 2 (circ_TEX2, circ_0004913) in hepatoma pathogenesis. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect circ_TEX2, miR-96-5p, and sprouty-related EVH1 domain containing 1 (SPRED1) expression. Western blot analyzed the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), SPRED1, and the apoptosis-related protein levels. 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and colony formation assays were used to test cell proliferation. Cell migration and invasion were analyzed by transwell assay, and cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was done to analyze the target relationship between miR-96-5p and circ_TEX2 or SPRED1. The effects of circ_TEX2 on tumor growth in vivo were verified by xenograft model experiment and immunohistochemistry assay. The levels of circ_TEX2 and SPRED1 were down-regulated in hepatoma tissues and cells, and miR-96-5p expression was up-regulated. Overexpression of circ_TEX2 could inhibit the proliferation, migration, and invasion and boost cell apoptosis of hepatoma cells. Circ_TEX2 affected SPRED1 expression by sponging miR-96-5p. The overexpression of miR-96-5p could overturn the influence of circ_TEX2 up-regulation on malignant behaviors of hepatoma cells, and reduced SPRED1 expression could reverse the function of miR-96-5p knockdown on hepatoma cell malignant behaviors. Circ_TEX2 could suppress the growth of xenograft tumors in vivo. Our study demonstrates the tumor-suppressive role of circ_TEX2 in hepatoma through miR-96-5p/SPRED1 axis, suggesting that strategies directed toward restoring the production of circ_TEX2 might have a therapeutic value for hepatoma treatment.

Knockdown of microRNA-96-5p resists oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in nucleus pulposus cells

BACKGROUND

Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) often leads to low back pain, which severely affects people's quality of life. Oxidative stress (OS) can accelerate nucleus pulposus cell (NPCs) senescence and apoptosis. Exploring the mechanism underlying OS-induced apoptosis is of utmost importance to aid in the development of IVDD treatment.

METHODS

In the current study, we tested the function of microRNA-96-5p in H2O2-treated NPCs. Apoptosis and mitophagy-related proteins were examined by western blot. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis of NPCs were evaluated by flow cytometry. A luciferase reporter assay was conducted to confirm the interaction between microRNA-96-5p and Forkhead Box Protein O1 (FOXO1).

RESULTS

H2O2 treatment enhanced apoptosis in NPCs and upregulated the microRNA-96-5p expression. It was shown that knockdown of microRNA-96-5p attenuated H2O2-induced OS and apoptosis. FOXO1 is a direct target of microRNA-96-5p, and knockdown of microRNA-96-5p enhanced PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy by up-regulating FOXO1.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, knockdown of microRNA-96-5p enhanced PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy by up-regulating FOXO1. Our results facilitate the understanding of the role of microRNA-96-5p in IVDD and the mechanism of H2O2-induced oxidative damage.

Analysis of active components and molecular mechanism of action of Rubia cordifolia L. in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on network pharmacology and experimental verification

The aim of this study is to explore the active components and potential molecular mechanism of action of Rubia cordifolia L. against nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We used network pharmacology, molecular docking, and bioinformatics analysis to identify the active components and their role against NPC. The experimental verification was detected by MTT, AnnexinV-FITC/PI double fluorescence staining and Western blotting method. Network pharmacology identified that mollugin is one of the most effective components inRubia cordifolia L. Important NPC targets included HSP90AA1, CDK1, EGFR, PIK3CA, MAPK14, and CDK2. Molecular docking revealed considerable binding activity of mollugin with either of the 6 important NPC targets. Bioinformatics analysis showed that these 6 important targets were mutated in NPC, and the expression of HSP90AA1, PIK3CA, and CDK2 in cancer tissues was significantly different from that in normal tissues. MTT detection and AnnexinV-FITC/PI double fluorescence staining showed that mollugin inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of NPC cells. Western blotting indicated that the molecular mechanism of mollugin against NPC was related to the regulation of the expression of Survivin and XIAP. This study predicted and partially verified the pharmacological and molecular mechanism of action of Rubia cordifolia L. against NPC. Mollugin was identified as a potential active ingredient against NPC. These results prove the reliability of network pharmacology approaches and provide a basis for further research and application of Rubia cordifolia L. against NPC.

Proteomics profiling reveals the molecular signatures and potential therapeutic targets of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a malignant tumor distinctly characterized by ethnic and geographic distribution, is highly prevalent in Southern China and Southeast Asia. However, the molecular mechanisms of NPC have not been fully revealed at the proteomic level. In this study, 30 primary NPC samples and 22 normal nasopharyngeal epithelial tissues were collected for proteomics analysis, and a relatively complete proteomics landscape of NPC was depicted for the first time. By combining differential expression analysis, differential co-expression analysis, and network analysis, potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets were identified. Some identified targets were verified by biological experiments. We found that 17-AAG, a specific inhibitor of the identified target, HSP90, could be a potential therapeutic drug for NPC. Finally, consensus clustering identified two NPC subtypes with specific molecular features. The subtypes and the related molecules were verified by an independent data set and may have different progression-free survival. The results of this study provide a comprehensive understanding of the molecular signatures of NPC and provide new perspectives and inspiration for prognostic determination and treatment of NPC.

Clinical value and potential mechanisms of BUB1B up-regulation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has insidious onset, late clinical diagnosis and high recurrence rate, which leads to poor quality of patient life. Therefore, it is necessary to further explore the pathogenesis and therapy targets of NPC. BUB1 mitotic checkpoint serine/threonine kinase B (BUB1B) was found to be up-regulated in a variety of cancers, but only two previous study showed that BUB1B was overexpressed in NPC and the sample size was small. The clinical role of BUB1B expression and its underlying mechanism in NPC require more in-depth research. Immunohistochemical samples and public RNA-seq data indicated that BUB1B protein and mRNA expression levels were up-regulated in NPC, and summary receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that BUB1B expression level had a strong ability to distinguish NPC tissues from non-NPC tissues. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of genes and genomes were performed and revealed that BUB1B and its related genes were mainly involved in cell cycle and DNA replication. Protein- Protein Interaction were built to interpret the BUB1B molecular mechanism. Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) could be the upstream regulation factor of BUB1B, which was verified by Chromatin Immunoprecipitation Sequencing samples. In summary, BUB1B was highly expressed in NPC, and HDAC2 may affect cell cycle by regulating BUB1B to promote cancer progression.

The molecular mechanism of miR-96-5p in the pathogenesis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), characterized by the androgen excess and arrest of antral follicles, is a common endocrine disorder among women lacking specific diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Herein, we studied the molecular mechanism of miR-96-5p in the process of PCOS and its potential applications in PCOS. Clinically, we found that miR-96-5p significantly decreased in serum, follicular fluid and primary human granulosa cells (hGCs) of PCOS patients (n = 70) vs non-PCOS women (n = 60), as well as in the ovaries of 3-types of induced PCOS-like mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the elevated circulating miR-96-5p levels were significantly correlated with the PCOS disordered endocrine clinical features, and the area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic was 0.8344, with 75.71% specificity and 80% sensitivity. Mechanically, we identified miR-96-5p as an androgen-regulated miRNA that directly targets the forkhead transcription factor FOXO1. Inhibition of miR-96-5p decreased estrogen synthesis, while decreasing the cell proliferation index of KGN via regulating the expression of FOXO1 and its downstream genes. Inversely, inhibition of FOXO1 abrogated the effect of miR-96-5p on estrogen synthesis and proliferation index. Of note, ovarian intra-bursal injection of miR-96-5p agomir rescued the phenotypes of dehydroepiandrosterone-induced PCOS like mice. In conclusion, our results clarified a vital role of miR-96-5p in the pathogenesis of PCOS and might serve as a novel diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for PCOS.

Proliferation, Metastasis, and Radiosensitivity of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells in the Expression and Effect of Kiwifruit Extract through the Regulation of miR-205-5p

Background

Radix Actinidiae extract (RAE) has been shown to inhibit cancer in many studies, but its potential mechanism in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) progression remains unclear.

Methods

NPC cells (SUNE1) were treated with different doses of RAE. For transfection, SUNE1 cells were transfected with the microRNA (miR)-205-5p inhibitor (anti-miR-205-5p) or mimic followed by treatment with 200 μg/mL RAE for 24 h. The MTT assay and colony formation assay were used to detect cell proliferation and radiosensitivity. The transwell assay was used to detect cell migration and invasion. The expression of miR-205-5p was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. The protein expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) were detected by western blot analysis.

Results

RAE inhibited NPC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while it enhanced radiosensitivity (P < 0.05). Also, RAE treatment decreased miR-205-5p expression, as well as MMP2 and MMP9 protein levels (P < 0.05). Anti-miR-205-5p transfection enhanced the effects of RAE on NPC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and radiosensitivity (P < 0.05), while miR-205-5p mimic transfection had an opposite effect (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

RAE might decrease miR-205-5p, thereby it inhibited NPC cell proliferation and metastasis and enhanced radiosensitivity.

Circ_0028007 Aggravates the Malignancy of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma by Regulating miR-656-3p/ELF2 Axis

Circular RNAs function as important regulators in the pathogenesis of human cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We aimed to explore the functions of circ_0028007 in NPC development. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay was employed for the levels of circ_0028007, NUAK family kinase 1, microRNA-656-3p (miR-656-3p), and E74 like ETS transcription factor 2 (ELF2). RNase R assay was used to verify the feature of circ_0028007. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and colony formation assay were performed to assess cell growth. Wound-healing assay and transwell assay were adopted to analyze cell migration and invasion. Tube formation assay was conducted for cell angiogenic capacity. Flow cytometry analysis was performed for cell apoptosis. Western blot assay was conducted for protein levels. Compared to normal tissues and cells, circ_0028007 level was elevated in NPC tissues and cells. Knockdown of circ_0028007 repressed NPC cell growth, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis, facilitated apoptosis in vitro and blocked tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, circ_0028007 silencing could regulate the AMP-activated protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway in NPC cells. Circ_0028007 promoted the malignant behaviors of NPC cells via acting as miR-656-3p sponge. In addition, ELF2 was demonstrated to be the target gene of miR-656-3p. MiR-656-3p overexpression restrained NPC cell malignant phenotypes, while ELF2 elevation reversed the effects. Circ_0028007 contributed to the progression of NPC by decoying miR-656-3p and elevating ELF2. The findings might provide potential targets for NPC therapy.

Involvement of Non-Coding RNAs in Chemo- and Radioresistance of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

The crucial treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is radiation therapy supplemented by chemotherapy. However, long-term radiation therapy can cause some genetic and proteomic changes to produce radiation resistance, leading to tumour recurrence and poor prognosis. Therefore, the search for new markers that can overcome the resistance of tumor cells to drugs and radiotherapy and improve the sensitivity of tumor cells to drugs and radiotherapy is one of the most important goals of pharmacogenomics and cancer research, which is important for predicting treatment response and prognosis. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), may play important roles in regulating chemo- and radiation resistance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by controlling the cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis, and DNA damage repair, as well as other signalling pathways. Recent research has suggested that selective modulation of ncRNA activity can improve the response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, providing an innovative antitumour approach based on ncRNA-related gene therapy. Therefore, ncRNAs can serve as biomarkers for tumour prediction and prognosis, play a role in overcoming drug resistance and radiation resistance in NPC, and can also serve as targets for developing new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we discuss the involvement of ncRNAs in chemotherapy and radiation resistance in NPC. The effects of these molecules on predicting therapeutic cancer are highlighted.

MicroRNA-195-3p inhibits cyclin dependent kinase 1 to induce radiosensitivity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are revealed to participate in the progression of multiple malignancies, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This work is intended to decipher the function of microRNA-195-3p (miR-195-3p) in regulating the radiosensitivity of NPC cells and its mechanism. MiR-195-3p and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) expressions were detected in NPC tissues and cells using qRT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Moreover, radiation-resistant cell lines were induced by continuous irradiation with different doses. Furthermore, the CCK-8 experiment, colony formation assay and flow cytometry were utilized to examine the growth, apoptosis and cell cycle of radioresistant cells. Bioinformatics prediction and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay were applied to prove the targeting relationship between miR-195-3p and CDK1 mRNA 3ʹUTR. The data showed that miR-195-3p was remarkably down-modulated in NPC tissues and was associated with increased tumor grade, lymph node metastasis and clinical stage of the patients. MiR-195-3p expression was significantly down-modulated in radiation-resistant NPC tissues and NPC cell lines relative to radiation-sensitive NPC tissues and human nasopharyngeal epithelial cells, while CDK1 expression was notably up-modulated. MiR-195-3p overexpression inhibited the growth of NPC cells, decreased radioresistance, promoted apoptosis, and impeded the cell cycle progression. CDK1 was a target gene of miR-195-3p, and CDK1 overexpression counteracted the effects of miR-195-3p on NPC cell growth, apoptosis, cell cycle progression and radiosensitivity. In summary, miR-195-3p improves the radiosensitivity of NPC cells by targeting and regulating CDK1.

Identifying key genes and small molecule compounds for nasopharyngeal carcinoma by various bioinformatic analysis

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is one of the most prevalent head and neck cancer in southeast Asia. It is necessary to proceed further studies on the mechanism of occurrence and development of NPC.In this study, we employed the microarray dataset GSE12452 and GSE53819 including 28 normal samples and 49 nasopharyngeal carcinoma samples downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO) to analysis. R software, STRING, CMap, and various databases were used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs), construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and proceed small molecule compounds analysis, among others.Totally, 424 DEGs were selected from the dataset. DEGs were mainly enriched in extracellular matrix organization, cilium organization, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, collagen-containing extracellular matrix, and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, among others. Top 10 upregulated and top 10 downregulated hub genes were identified as hub DEGs. Piperlongumine, apigenin, menadione, 1,4-chrysenequinone, and chrysin were identified as potential drugs to prevent and treat NPC. Besides, the effect of genes CDK1, CDC45, RSPH4A, and ZMYND10 on survival of NPC was validated in GEPIA database.The data revealed novel aberrantly expressed genes and pathways in NPC by bioinformatics analysis, potentially providing novel insights for the molecular mechanisms governing NPC progression. Although further studies needed, the results demonstrated that the expression levels of CDK1, CDC45, RSPH4A, and ZMYND10 probably affected survival of NPC patients.

Inhibition of miR-96-5p May Reduce Aβ42/Aβ40 Ratio via Regulating ATP-binding cassette transporter A1

BACKGROUND

Imbalance between amyloid-β (Aβ) production and clearance results in Aβ accumulation. Regulating Aβ levels is still a hot point in the research of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

OBJECTIVE

To identify the differential expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and its upstream microRNA (miRNA) in AD models, and to explore their relationships with Aβ levels.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were performed to determine the expression of ABCA1 in 5xFAD mice, SH-SY5Y cells treated with Aβ oligomers and SH-SY5YAβPP695 cells (AD models). TargetScan was used to predict the upstream miRNAs for ABCA1. Dual-luciferase assay was conducted to identify the regulation of the miRNA on ABCA1. qRT-PCR was used to measure the expression of miRNA in AD models. Finally, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed to detect Aβ42 and Aβ40 levels.

RESULTS

The expression of ABCA1 was significantly downregulated in AD models at both mRNA and protein levels. Dual-luciferase assay showed that miR-96-5p could regulate the expression of ABCA1 through binding to the 3 untranslated region of ABCA1. The level of miR-96-5p was significantly elevated in AD models. The expression of ABCA1 was enhanced while Aβ42 levels and Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios were reduced in SH-SY5YAβPP695 cells after treated with miR-96-5p inhibitor.

CONCLUSION

The current study found that miR-96-5p is the upstream miRNA for ABCA1. Suppression of miR-96-5p in AD models could reduce Aβ42/Aβ40 ratios via upregulating the expression of ABCA1, indicating that miR-96-5p plays an important role in regulating the content of Aβ.

Circ-KIAA0907 inhibits the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma by regulating the miR-96-5p/UNC13C axis

Background

Circular RNA (circRNA) plays an important role in regulating cell biological function and has been shown to be involved in cancer progression, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Circ-KIAA0907 has been found to play an anti-cancer role in OSCC, so it is worth exploring more functions and new mechanisms of circ-KIAA0907 in OSCC progression.

Methods

Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of circ-KIAA0907, microRNA (miR)-96-5p, and unc-13 homolog C (UNC13C). Transwell assay, flow cytometry, and colony formation assay were employed to measure the migration, invasion, apoptosis, and radiosensitivity of cells. Besides, glucose uptake, lactate production, and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) were determined to evaluate the glycolysis ability of cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay were performed to confirm the interactions among circ-KIAA0907, miR-96-5p, and UNC13C. And RNA pull-down assay was used to verify the binding degree of miR-96-5p to its targets. Moreover, UNC13C protein level was examined using western blot (WB) analysis. OSCC xenograft models were constructed to perform in vivo experiments.

Results

Circ-KIAA0907 was a stability circRNA with lowly expression in OSCC. Overexpressed circ-KIAA0907 could inhibit migration, invasion, and glycolysis, while promoting apoptosis and radiosensitivity in OSCC cells. In the terms of mechanism, circ-KIAA0907 could sponge miR-96-5p to regulate UNC13C expression. MiR-96-5p overexpression could reverse the inhibitory effect of circ-KIAA0907 on OSCC progression, and UNC13C knockdown also could overturn the suppressive effect of miR-96-5p inhibitor on OSCC progression. Animal experiments revealed that circ-KIAA0907 could reduce the tumor growth of OSCC by regulating the miR-96-5p/UNC13C axis.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that circ-KIAA0907 restrains OSCC progression via the miR-96-5p/UNC13C axis, indicating that it may be a potential target for OSCC treatment.

Integrated miRNA and mRNA omics reveal the anti-cancerous mechanism of Licochalcone B on Human Hepatoma Cell HepG2

To unravel the potential of Licochalcone B as an anti-tumour phytochemical agent and evaluate its underlying mechanisms, we analyzed the mRNAs and miRNAs expression profiles of HepG2 cells in response to Licochalcone B (120 μM). mRNA and miRNA expression libraries were conducted and functional analysis for differential expression mRNAs was carried out utilizing Clue GO. We found 763 Licochalcone B -responsive differently expressed genes, among them, 572 mRNAs were up-regulated and 191 mRNAs were down-regulated, many of which were related to the MAPK signaling pathway. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed to discover the hub genes, and IL6, FOS, JUN, NOTCH1, UBC, UBB, CXCL8, CDKN1A, IL1B, ATF3, and GATA3 genes were screened out. Additionally, miRNAs engaged in Licochalcone B -mediated regulation on HepG2 cells were also studied. 85 differential expression miRNAs were identified, including 39 up-regulated miRNAs and 46 down-regulated miRNAs. Co-expression of miRNA-mRNA network was created and two key miRNAs (hsa-miR-29b-3p and hsa-miR-96-5p) were identified. These recognized key genes, miRNA, and the miRNA-mRNA regulatory network may provide clues to understand the molecular mechanism of Licochalcone B as an apoptotic inducer which may offer hint for its application as a functional food component.