microRNA-181b suppresses the metastasis of lung cancer cells by targeting sex determining region Y-related high mobility group-box 6 (Sox6).
Pathol Res Pract 2018;
215:335-342. [PMID:
30580904 DOI:
10.1016/j.prp.2018.12.009]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to measure the expression of microRNA (miR)-181b in patients with lung cancer, investigate its biological function and elucidate the underlying mechanisms associated with the development of lung cancer.
METHODS
miR-181b expression in tissues was measured via RT-qPCR. After A549 cells were transfected with miR-181b mimic or si-Sox6, the proliferation, migration and cell cycle distribution of A549 were evaluated using cell counting kit-8 assay, transwell assay and flow cytometry. The levels of cell cycle-related proteins and Sox6 were analyzed by western blotting. Gene targets of miR-181b were predicted via bioinformatics analysis and verified using a dual-luciferase reporter gene assay.
RESULTS
Expression of miR-181b was significantly downregulated in lung cancer tissues (P < 0.05), and was inversely correlated with the degree of cell differentiation and clinical stages of lung cancer (both P < 0.05). Additionally, the expression of miR-181b was significantly lower in adenocarcinoma compared with squamous cell carcinoma in the lungs (P < 0.05). Overexpression of miR-181b significantly decreased the protein level of Sox6 and significantly suppressed the cell proliferation and metastasis (both P < 0.05); this effect was also observed in A549 cells transfected with si-Sox6. The luciferase activity of a Sox6 3'-untranslated region-based reporter construct was significantly lower when transfected with miR-181b (P < 0.05), which suggests that Sox6 is a direct target of miR-181b.
CONCLUSION
The results of the present study suggest that miR-181b may function as a tumor inhibitor in the development of lung cancer via targeting Sox6 to decrease the proliferation and metastasis of lung cancer cells.
Collapse