MiR-181a and miR-181b influence proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis via targeting FUT1 in colorectal cancer

Abstract

Objective To investigate the correlation of miR-181a and miR-181b with fucosyltransferase FUT1, the functional mechanism was elucidated in a colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods It collected 32 pairs of tissue samples, 18 males and 14 females in the first affiliated hospital of Dalian Medicinal University, from March 2014 to January 2016. The expression of miR-181a and miR-181b was detected by RT-PCR in CRC tissues, adjacent tissues, serum of colorectal cancer patients and healthy people, and CRC cell lines SW620 and SW480 with differently metastatic ability. The relationship of FUT1 and miR-181a, miR-181b expression were verificated by Pearson′s correlation curve. FUT1 was identified the target of miR-181a and miR-181b by Network prediction softwares (TargetScan Human 7.1, microRNA.org and Starbase v2.0) and luciferase assay. The effects of miR-181a and miR-181b expression on the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of SW480 and SW620 cells were further detected by CCK8, wound healing, transwell and tube foramtion assays. T-test was used for comparison between two independent samples, and one-way anova was used for comparison between multiple samples. Pearson correlation coefficient was used for correlation analysis. Results The levels of miR-181a and 181b in CRC tissues were much lower than in tumor-adjacent tissues (3.12±1.88 vs 6.44±2.32, t=11.74; 3.16±1.77 vs 5.52±2.45, t=3.24 ; P<0.05). The levels of miR-181a and 181b in serum of colorectal cancer patients were much lower than in healthy people(1.32±0.25, 2.57±0.48, t=10.26; 0.91±0.14, 1.63±0.29, t=5.19; P<0.05). The levels of miR-181a and miR-181b in SW620, SW480 CRC cells were detected to be much lower than in normal colorectal epithelial cells[(0.65±0.10, 0.50±0.09)vs 1.0; (0.60±0.12, 0.42±0.03)vs 1.0; t=3.08, P<0.05]. FUT1 was highly expressed in CRC tissues and SW620 (t=5.23, P<0.05). Based on the network prediction softwares and luciferase assays, FUT1 was the common target of miR-181a and miR-181b. Over expression of miR-181a or miR-181b inhibited FUT1 level and attenuated the capacity of cell migration, invasion and proliferation in SW620. Down-regulation of miRNAs in SW480 increased FUT1 expression and promoted the capability of cell migration, invasion and proliferation. Downregulation of the two miRNAs attenuated the capability of cell invasion in SW480, which was blocked by the reductive FUT1. Conclusion MiR-181a and miR-181b mediated the progression of CRC cells by targeting FUT1.(Chin J Lab Med, 2018, 41: 841-846) Key words: Colorectal neoplasms; Fucosyltransferases; microRNAs; Cell proliferation; Neoplasm invasiveness; Neovascularization, pathologic