Effect of MiR-338-3p on epithelial-mesenchymal transition in gastric cancer cells by targeting ZEB2 and MACC1 and regulation of MACC1/c-Met signaling.

Abstract

e22010 Background: AberrantmicroRNAs (miRNAs) expression is involved in carcinogensis and tumor progression in gastric cancer (GC). Recently, microRNA-338-3p (miR-338-3p) has been proved to down-regulate in GC patients with deeper local invasion and advanced TNM stage. However, the underlying mechanism has not been well explored. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is well-known as a key step for tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Increasing evidence indicates that miRNAs play an important part in modulating EMT in many cancers. Here, we investigated the role and mechanism of miR-338-3p on EMT in GC. Methods: Cell migration and invasion ability were detected by wound-healing and transwell invasion assay.Western blot analysis was preformed to assess E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Fibronectin, Vimentin, c-Met, Akt and GSK-3β expression in GC cells. 3D cell culture system was carried out to observe the morphological changes in GC cells. Dual-luciferase assay was conducted to verify that miR-338-3p targeting ZE...