MiR-9 Maintains Cell Migration and Proliferation of Colorectal Cancer Cells by Targeting Repressor Element-1 Silencing Transcription Factor (REST)

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor with high morbidity and high metastasis rate. miR-9 exhibited different roles in various types of tumors, but its function and molecular mechanism in CRC progression are still unclear. In this study, the expression of miR-9 were determined by real-time PCR, and it revealed that miR-9 expression varied in normal colorectal cells and CRC cells. The cell viability and migration of CRC cells were inhibited after miR-9 inhibitor transfection, as presented in CCK-8 and transwell results. By dual-luciferase reporter assay, REST was found to be a target gene of miR-9. And the interaction of miR-9 and REST was verified by real-time PCR and western blotting. Further, REST overexpression inhibited CRC cell migration. These data indicated that miR-9 maintained cell proliferation and migration in CRC cells, partly through targeting REST.