Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression of microRNA-128a (miR-128a) and its role in hepatocellular carcinoma
(HCC). Methods Nineteen pairs of fresh surgical specimens of HCC and adjacent tissues were examined for miR-128a
expression using qRT-PCR. A miR-128a mimics or inhibitor was transfected into HCC cells, and the cell viability was analyzed
by MTT assay. RND3, one of the potential targets of miR-128a, was predicted by bioinformatics software and demonstrated by
dual luciferase reporter assay. The expression of RND3 after transfection was detected using qRT-PCR and Western blotting,
and the cell cycle-related proteins were determined with Western blotting. Results The expression of miR-128a were
significantly up-regulated in HCC tissues as compared to the adjacent tissues (P<0.05). In cultured HCC cells, miR-128a
promoted the cell proliferation and resulted in down-regulated RND3 mRNA and protein expressions by targeting RND3’
3’UTR (P<0.05) and also in the down-regulation of cyclin B1, cyclin D1 and CDK4 protein expressions. Conclusion miR-128a is
up-regulated in HCC and promotes HCC cell proliferation by targeting RND3.