MiR-377 suppresses cell proliferation and metastasis in gastric cancer via repressing the expression of VEGFA.

Abstract

In recent years, microRNAs have been identified to participate in tumor genesis and progression of different tumors including gastric cancer. However, the role of miR-377 played in gastric cancer (GC), and its mechanisms have not been demonstrated. We detected miR-377 expression level in 86 GC and adjacent normal tissue samples by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) as well as in GC cell lines. The relationship between miR-377 and clinical pathological features was analyzed. Using miR-377 mimics and inhibitors, we interfered with miR-377 level and employed several functional experiments to study the miR-377 effects on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Western blot assay and dual-luciferase assay were used to verify the target of miR-377. miR-377 expressed significantly lower in GC tissues and cell lines compared to normal tissues and GES-1 cells. Overexpression of miR-377 inhibited cell growth, migration and invasion, while downregulation miR-377 obviously promoted cell growth and metastasis. Furthermore, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) was confirmed as a direct target of miR-377 and reversed the influence of mir-377 over-expression. miR-377 expressed lower in GC and suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion partly via repressing the VEGFA expression, which could provide a potential target for GC diagnosis and therapy.