Objective        To investigate the possible underlying mechanism that miR-224 affects the migration of liver cancer cells.       Methods       A luciferase reporter assay was used to confirm that the gene HOXD10 was one direct target of miR-224. qRT-PCR

Western blotting

and scratch wound migration assay were used to clarify the molecular mechanism of miR-224 in the regulation of cell migration in human hepatocellular carcinoma line Hep3B.       Results        qRT-PCR indicated the expression of mi

R-224 was significantly stronger in Hep3B cells than in human hepatic L02 cells (relative expression ratio: 1.679 2

P

0.05). Scratch wound migration assay showed that transfection of miR-224 resulted in significantly increased ratio of migration (80.12% to 82.02%

P

0.05) in Hep3B cells than the cells transfected by miR-224 mimic negative control (56.43% to 58.33%) and by blank vector (60.48% to 66.94%). Compared with the miR-224 negative control

the luciferase activity was significantly decreased in 293 cells with miR-224 mimic (0.633 2). miR-224 affected the migration ability of HCC via directly targeting HOXD10.       Conclusion       miR-224 is involved in the regulation of hepatoma cell migration via directly targeting HOXD10.