Inhibition of miR-20a-5p Suppresses Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Colorectal Cancer Cells Through GJA1.

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This study was designed to clarify the role of GJA1 in colorectal cancer. qPCR was adopted to detect the GJA1 and miR-20a-5p expression levels in tumor tissues and cells; and EdU, Transwell assay, Scratch test to examine the migration, invasion, and proliferation of colorectal cancer cells. The EMT-related protein expression was measured by immunofluorescence and western Blot. The binding relationship between GJA1 and miR-20a-5p was examined using dual luciferase reporting subsystem. In situ hybridization was utilized to examine the miR-20a-5p expression in tumor tissues and metastases. Rescue experiments were performed by simultaneous transfection of sh-GJA1 inhibitor and miR-20a-5p inhibitor. The miR-20a-5p expression was high and the GJA1 expression was low in colorectal cancer tissues and cells. A targeting relationship was found in GJA1 and miR-20a-5p targets. The invasion, migration, and proliferation of colorectal cancer cells can be inhibited by overexpression of GJA1. Meanwhile, overexpression of GJA1 markedly elevated the e-cadherin expression, but reduced the levels of vimentin, α-SMA and n-cadherin expression. miR-20a-5p inhibitor + sh-GJA1 promoted the invasion, migration, and proliferation of colon cancer cells and EMT process. Overall, miR-20a-5p could target GJA1 to down-regulate the GJA1 expression, thereby regulating the EMT response, and ultimately promoting the progression of colorectal cancer.