MicroRNA-101 downregulation increases C-Fos expression and contributes to the pathogenesis of non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background The molecular mechanisms involved in tumorigenesis of lung cancer remain to be further elucidated. MicroRNA (miRNA) is a class of non-coding RNAs associated with carcinogenesis. The present study aims to investigate the role of miRNA-101 (miR-101) in lung cancer. Methods MiR-101 was measured in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues compared with the matched adjacent tissues. MiR-101 was transfected into NSCLC A549 cells. Bioinformatics predictions revealed a potential binding site of miR-101 on the 3′UTR of C-Fos, which was further confirmed by the luciferase assay. Western blot analysis and knockdown method were used to detect the expression and function of C-Fos Results The expression of miR-101 was downregulated in NSCLC. Overexpression of miR-101 suppressed cell proliferation of NSCLC A549 cells, and induced cell apoptosis. C-Fos was downregulated by miR-101 at the protein level. In addition, knockdown of C-Fos induced similar effects as overexpression of miR-101 in NSCLC cells. Conclusion These findings indicate that miR-101 regulate NSCLC cells growth through targeting C-Fos. Thus, strategies on C-Fos and/or miR-101 may be a potential molecular therapy for NSCLC.