Background  Active wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway can promote the division and growth of gastric mucosal cells, and increase the possibility of carcinogenesis.

  Objective  To explore the effect of overexpression of miR-124 on precancerous lesions of gastric cancer rats based on wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

  Methods  Forty-three SPF Wistar rats were selected for a prospective study, 10 of which were selected as the control group (normal saline), and the remaining 33 rats were used to construct a model of gastric precancerous lesions, with the successful modeling of 30 rats. They were divided into model group (saline), miR-124 inhibitor group and miR-124 simulator group.

  Results  Compared with the control group, the relative expression of miR-124 in the model group, the miR-124 inhibitor group and the miR-124 simulator group decreased, while the epidermal growth factor (EGF), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor, the levels of TNF-α, wnt and β-catenin were increased (P <0.05); Compared with the model group, the expression level of miR-124 in the miR-124 inhibitor group was decreased, while the expression levels of EGF, EGFR, IL-6, TNF-α, wnt and β-catenin were increased, and the relative expression level of miR-124 in the miR-124 simulator group was also increased. The levels of EGF, EGFR, IL-6, TNF-α, wnt and β-catenin were decreased (all P <0.05). Compared with the miR-124 inhibitor group, the relative expression level of miR-124 in the miR-124 simulator group was increased, while the levels of EGF, EGFR, IL-6, TNF-α, wnt and β-catenin were decreased (all P <0.05).

  Conclusion  Overexpression of miR-124 can reduce the damage of gastric mucosa in rats and improve its inflammatory response. The mechanism may be related to inhibition of wnt/ β- catenin signal pathway.