Abstract: Objective To explore the expression of microRNA-10b (miR-10b) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and adjacent tissues, and to investigate the effect of miR-10b on the malignant change of lung cancer cell A549 by regulating the expression of Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4). Methods 40 patients with NSCLC were selected and used in situ hybridization, with detection of lung cancer and adjacent tissues of miR-10b expression; lung cancer cell A549 transfected miR-10b mimics, changes of CCK-8 assay was used to detect the proliferation of lung cancer cells; real time PCR and Western blot were used to examine the cell KLF4 mRNA and protein levels; soft agar colony formation assay was used to detect the expression of miR-10b on the proliferation of lung cancer cell A549 tumor malignant. Results Lung cancer A549 cells and lung cancer tissue of miR-10b expression were higher than that of normal lung epithelial 16HBE cells and cancer adjacent tissues; overexpression of miR-10b analogue in A549 cells, KLF4 protein levels decreased significantly, KLF4 mRNA level was not changed significantly; miR-10b expression significantly increased the growth of A549 cells. Conclusion The distribution of miR-10b in different cell types and tissues may be different, which may promote the proliferation and malignancy of lung cancer cells by inhibiting the expression of KLF4.

Key words: miR-10b, Kruppel-like factor 4, non-small cell lung cancer, proliferation, malignant