Anticancer Effect of Natural Product Sulforaphane by Targeting MAPK Signal through miRNA-1247-3p in Human Cervical Cancer Cells

The prognosis of cervical cancer remains poor. Sulforaphane, an active ingredient from cruciferous plants, has been identified as a potential anticancer agent in various cancers. However, there is little information about its effect on cervical cancer. Here, we conducted a present study to uncover the effect and the potential mechanisms of sulforaphane on cervical cancer. HeLa cells were treated with sulforaphane, and cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8, Western blot, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence. Then, next-generation sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics tools were used to analyze mRNA-seq, miRNA-seq, and potential pathways. Finally, qRT-PCR, Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry, small RNAs analysis, and Western blot were performed to evaluate the biological function of miR1247-3p and MAPK pathway in HeLa cell lines. Sulforaphane significantly suppressed the viability and induced apoptosis of HeLa cells. NGS and bioinformatics analysis showed sulforaphane exerted its anti-tumor activities through miR1247-3p and the MAPK signaling pathway. Further analysis suggested that sulforaphane could activate MAPK pathway via down-regulating the expression of miR-1247-3p. Sulforaphane inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of HeLa cells via down-regulation of miR-1247-3p and activating the MAPK pathway. These findings provide preliminary experimental evidence for the treatment of cervical cancer with sulforaphane.