Impact of miRNA-23a-p21-activated kinase 6 signaling on the migration and invasion activities of prostate cancer cells

Abstract

Objective To investigate the role of the p21-activated kinase 6 (PAK6) and its target microRNA (miRNA) on prostate cancer cells migration and invasion.Methods MiRNA candidates which potentially target PAK6 was predicted by target prediction programs.The expression of PAK6 were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction ( Real-time PCR ) and Western blotting after PC-3 cells were transfected with miR-23a mimics or inhibitor oligonucleotides.Luciferase reporter assay was used to determine whether PAK6 was the direct target of miR-23a.Cell migration and invasion were detected hy matrigel invasion assay and transwell migration assay.Results MiRNA 23a was identified by target prediction programs. Exogenetic overexpression of miR-23a resulted in a remarkable decrease of PAK6 expression (79％),whereas miR-23a inhibitor oligonucleotides induced pronounced increase of PAK6 expression (40％).The luciferase activities were significantly inhibited 32％ in wild-type PAK6 group ( P＜0.05 ),while that were no significant difference in the mutation group (P＞0.05). PAK6 mRNA levels had no changed as detected by real-time PCR( P＞0.05). Matrigel invasion assay and transwell migration assay demonstrated that exogenetic overexpression of miR-23a markedly reduced migration and invasion of PC-3 cells (57％,91％ ).Conclusion MiRNA-23a inhibited prostate cancer cell migration and invasion by repressing PAK6. Key words: MicroRNA; p21-activated kinase 6; Prostate cancer; Migration; Invasion