Effect of up-regulation of micro-ribonucleic acid-22 and NLRP3 inhibition on viability of malignant melanoma cells

Purpose: To determine the effect of up-regulation of micro-ribonucleic acid-22 (miR-22) targeting nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) on the proliferation and invasiveness of malignant melanoma cells, as well as the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Mouse-derived melanoma B16 cells were subjected to thawing, sub-culture and transfection. The cells were assigned to groups (A1 -A5) in line with different transfections viz: A1 (miR-22 mimic overexpression-transfected), A2 (miR-22 inhibitor-transfected), A3 (miR-22 mimic+siNLRP3-transfected), A4 (miR-22 mimic NC sequence-transfected), and A5 (un-transfected).Results: The miR-22 expression was significantly up-regulated in A1, relative to A2, A3, A4, and A5 groups, but significantly lower, relative to A3, A4, and A5. The NLRP3 mRNA and protein levels were significantly lower in A1 than in other groups, but significantly up-regulated in A2, relative to A3, A4, and A5 (p < 0.05). Cell proliferation rate and colony formation rate were significantly lower in A1 group but were significantly up-regulated in A2, relative to A3, A4, and A5. Conclusion: Targeting NLRP3 inhibition by up-regulating miR-22 expression level significantly reduces the proliferation, invasiveness, and matrix metalloproteinase levels of melanoma B16 cells, thereby reducing the occurrence and development of malignant melanoma. The results provide some useful reference data for the treatment of malignant melanoma at the gene level.