MicroRNA-27a Promotes the Proliferation and Invasiveness of Colon Cancer Cells by Targeting SFRP1 through the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Abstract

This study aims to explore the effects of microRNA-27a (miR-27a) on the proliferation and invasiveness of colon cancer cells through the Secreted Frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Colon cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues from 125 colon cancer patients, together with the HCEpic, HCT-116, HT-29, SW480 and SW620 cell lines, were prepared for this study. The transfected HCT-116 cells were divided into the miR-27a mimics, miR-27a-NC, anti-miR-27a, blank, Lv-SFRP1, Lv-NC, and miR-27a mimics + Lv-SFRP1 groups. RT-qPCR was performed to detect the expressions of miR-27a and SFRP1 mRNA. A dual-luciferase reporter assay was conducted to examine the effect of miR-27a on SFRP1. Western blotting was used to measure the expressions of the SFRP1, β-catenin, GSK-3β, p-β-catenin, p-GSK-3β, c-Myc and cyclin D1 proteins. MTT, soft agar clone formation and Transwell chamber assays were performed to detect cell proliferation and invasion. Compared with normal tissues and cells, colon cancer tissues and cells demonstrated significantly higher expression of miR-27a, but lower expressions of SFRP1 mRNA and protein. MiR-27a negatively regulated the expression of SFRP1 mRNA. SFRP1 was also found to be a target gene of miR-27a. In the miR-27a mimic group, the proliferation and invasiveness of colon cancer cells were significantly increased, while the expressions of GSK-3 β and p-β-catenin were remarkably down-regulated; in contrast, the expressions of p-GSK-3β, -catenin, c-Myc and cyclin D1 were up-regulated. While the proliferation and invasiveness of colon cancer cells in the anti-miR-27a and Lv-SFRP1 groups were decreased, the expressions of GSK-3β and p-β-catenin were elevated, and the expressions of p-GSK-3β, β-catenin, c-Myc and cyclin D1 were decreased. These findings indicated that miR-27a could promote the proliferation and invasiveness of colon cancer cells by targeting SFRP1 through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.