MiR-93 Promotes the Growth and Invasion of Prostate Cancer by Upregulating Its Target Genes TGFBR2, ITGB8, and LATS2

Jia-Ji Liu,Xuan Zhang,Xiao-Hou Wu

doi:10.1016/j.omto.2018.08.001

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of miR-93 on the growth and invasiveness of prostate cancer (PC) cells (PCCs). Real-time PCR was carried out to detect the expression of miR-93 in the PC tissues and cell lines. The adjacent normal tissues served as controls. For in vitro experiments, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium, clone formation, tumor cell invasion assays, and western blot analysis (WBA) were performed to confirm the variations in the proliferation and invasiveness of PCCs, prior and subsequent to transfection with an miR-93 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO), which blocks miR-93 binding to its target. Furthermore, the effect of miR-93 on the proliferation of PCCs was examined. Finally, the expression levels of the target genes of miR-93 were determined by WBA. miR-93 expression was higher in PC tissues than in the adjacent normal tissues, and a reduction in the miR-93 level remarkably inhibited the proliferation and invasiveness of PCCs. Moreover, miR-93 enhanced the expression of its target genes TGFΒR2, ITGB8, and LATS2. The results of this study suggest that miR-93 may promote the proliferation and invasion of PCCs by upregulating its target genes TGFBR2, ITGB8, and LATS2.

Highlights

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common malignant tumor of the urinary system and is ranked the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men.[1]
Studies on its pathogenesis are of great significance clinically
Recent studies showed that some miRNAs are aberrantly expressed in prostate cancer (PC) tissues and are important for the initiation and progression of PC

Summary

Introduction

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common malignant tumor of the urinary system and is ranked the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men.[1]. As important small regulatory RNAs in vivo, miRNAs act as tumor promoters or suppressors by regulating the expression levels of their specific target genes. It was found that miRNAs play an important role in the initiation and progression of cancer by influencing the proliferation and metastases of tumor cells.[2,3]. Several researchers have discovered aberrant miRNA expression in malignant prostate tumors, especially in the various stages and grades of PC, indicating an important role of miRNAs in tumor progression.[4,5]. MiR-93 promotes the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells,[6] as well as the progression and migration of breast cancer, by regulating the expression of LATS2.7 Other cancers promoted by miR-93 include glioma,[8] lung cancer,[9] and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.[10]. A recent study revealed that miR-93 cooperatively downregulates capicua protein levels to promote PC progression;[11] the target gene of miR-93 that promotes the progression of PC is not yet confirmed

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