Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of miR-130a-3p on glucose metabolism, proliferation and migration of liver cancer cells by targeting PDK1, a key enzyme of glucose metabolism, so as to provide a new target for the diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer. Methods The expression of miR-130a-3p in clinical tissue samples and cell lines of hepatocellular carcinoma was detected by qRT-PCR. Cell proliferation was measured by clone formation and CCK-8. Cell migration was measured by transwell and wound healing assay. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of related proteins. The production of lactic acid and ATP in cells was assayed by lactate assay kit and ATP assay kit respectively, and the PDH activity in cells was assayed by PDH activity assay kit. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verified the binding of miR-130a-3p to PDK1 3′ UTR. Results The expression level of miR-130a-3p was lower in liver cancer tissues and cells, and it was related to the size of tumor tissues and TNM stage. Overexpression of miR-130a-3p could enhance the activity of PDH in hepatoma cells, reduce the production of lactic acid and ATP, and inhibit the proliferation and migration of hepatoma cells. miR-130a-3p could bind to PDK1 and regulate its expression. Inhibition of PDK1 expression could reverse the enhancing effects of miR-130a-3p overexpression on cell proliferation and migration, and the effects on PDH activity, production of lactic acid and ATP were also reversed. Conclusion miR-130a-3p affects glycolysis and malignant progression of hepatoma cells by targeting PDK1.

Key words: miR-130a-3p, PDK1, liver cancer, glucose metabolism