Objective:To study the regulatory effect of miR-200a on mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) and its impact on the biological behavior of hepatoma carcinoma cells.Method:A luciferase reporter assay was used to determine miR-200a's regulatory impact on MET. Human hepatoma HepG2 cells were divided into a control group, a miR-200a group, a MET overexpression group, and a co-transfection group (miR-200a+MET). After culture, cell proliferation ability, cell migration ability, apoptosis, cell invasion ability, and the expression of MET and apoptosis-related (Bcl-2, Caspase-3, Bax) proteins were detected and observed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), scratch assay, Annexin V-FITC staining, transwell chambers, and western blotting. The two groups were compared using the independent sample t-test. The multiple groups were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA.Results:The luciferase experiment showed that miR-200a had target MET. The proliferation rate, number of invasions in cells (55.00 ± 7.21, 85.00 ± 7.94, 164.67 ± 19.22, 104.00± 12.29), scratch healing rate (28.33% ± 5.03%, 61.67% ± 4.04%, 74.67% ± 7.02%, 49.33% ± 9.02%), and expression levels of MET, Bcl-2, and Caspase-3 proteins were lower in the miR-200a group than those in the control group, MET overexpression group, and co-transfection group, while the MET overexpression group had higher indexes than the other three groups, with statistically significant differences between the groups ( P <0.05). The apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells and the expression level of Bax protein were higher in the miR-200a group than those in the control group, MET overexpression group, and co-transfection group (19.25% ± 2.98%, 6.80% ± 1.15%, 3.42% ±0.76%, 9.90% ± 2.72%), while the levels of various indexes in the MIF overexpression group were lower than those in the other three groups. The control group and co-transfection group were between the two groups, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant ( P <0.05). Conclusion:HepG2 cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell apoptosis induction can be inhibited by miR-200a, and the functional mechanism for this may be associated with the miR-200a target’s ability to down-regulate MET expression in HepG2 cells.

Objective: To investigate the role of nucleotidebinding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in hyperalgesia induced by temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA) in rats. Methods : Twenty 6-week-old male SD rats were randomly divided into NS group and MIA group．The rat model of TMJOA was established by injection monosodium iodoacetate ( MIA) into the upper cavity of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ．The changes of pain threshold in the TMJ region of rats after MIA injection were detected by Von Frey．The changes of condyle structure were observed by Hematoxylin-eosin ( HE ) and Safranin O-fast green stains．Histopathological changes of trigeminal ganglion (TG) were observed by HE stains．The expression and distribution of TG NLRP3 protein were detected by immunohistochemistry．Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of NLRP3 and interleukin (IL) -1 β in TG．The mRNA levels of NLRP3，apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC) ，cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase ( Caspase-1) ，IL-1β and IL-18 in TG were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction ( qRT-PCR) . Results : Compared to saline group，the pain threshold of experimental TMJ osteoarthritis rats decreased (P＜0. 05) ．TMJ and TG showed obvious pathological changes．The protein and mRNA levels of NLRP3 expressed in the tissues of rats in the TMJOA group increased (P ＜0. 05 ) . Conclusion NLRP3 inflammasome may be involved in the regulation of hyperalgesia in TMJOA rats.