These results provide a mechanism by which AQP3 is upregulated, as well as highlight the importance of miR-874 in gastric cancer development and progression.

a b s t r a c tIntestinal ischemic injury is a significant clinical problem arising from diseases or as a complication of abdominal surgery. Our previous study showed aquaporin 3 is involved in intestinal barrier impairment. Here, we revealed that intestinal ischemia induced a time-dependent increase of miR-874 expression and a time-dependent decrease of AQP3 expression, and the level of miR-874 expression was inversely related to AQP3 protein expression. In addition, miR-874 promoted the paracellular permeability in vitro through targeting 3 0 UTR of AQP3. Two of the tight junction proteins, Occludin and Claudin-1, were found to be involved in miR-874-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction.