Objective： MicroRNAs （miRNAs） are important regulators that play a key role in tumorigenesis and rumor progression. Transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） is involved in invasion and metastasis in many tumors. In this study, we investigated the microRNAs （miRNA） profiles altered by TGF-β1 in gastric cancer （GC） cells. Methods： We detected the expression profiles of miRNA by miRNA microarray and quantitative real- time polymerase chain reaction. Migration and invasion, wound-healing assay, prediction of miRNA targets, Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis were carried out to determine the role of one selected miRNA, namely miR-193b, in affecting the biological behaviors of GC BGC823 cells. Results： Among 847 human miRNAs in the microarray, three miRNAs （miR-27a, miR-29b-1 and miR-194） were up-regulated and three （miR-574-3p, miR-193b and miR-130b） were down-regulated in BGC823 cells treated with TGF-β1 compared with control, miR-193b suppressed the invasion and metastasis of GC cells in vivo and in vitro, and down-regulated urokinase-type plasminogen activator （uPA） protein in GC cells. Conclusions： TGF-β1 altered miRNA expression profile in BGC823 cells. Among the altered miRNAs, TGF-β1 induced the down-regulation of miR-193b, which inhibited cell invasion and metastasis in vivo and in vitro, and down-regulated uPA protein in GC cells.
