Melanoma is one of the most malignant skin tumours with constantly increasing incidence worldwide. Previous studies have demonstrated that microRNA-374 (miR-374) is a novel biomarker for cancer therapy. Therefore, this study explores whether miR-374 targeting tyrosinase (TYR) affects melanoma and its underlying mechanism. We constructed subcutaneous melanoma models to carry out the following experiments. The cells were transfected with a series of miR-374 mimics, miR-374 inhibitors or siRNA against TYR. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used for the verification of the targeting relationship between miR-374 and TYR. Reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were conducted to determine the expression of miR-374, TYR, β-catenin, B-cell leukaemia 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax), Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6), Leucine-rich repeat G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) and CyclinD1. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were evaluated using cell counting kit-8 assay, scratch test, transwell assay and flow cytometry respectively. TYR was proved as a putative target of miR-374 as the evidenced by the result. It was observed that up-regulated miR-374 or down-regulated TYR increased expression of Bax and decreased expressions of TYR, β-catenin, LRP6, Bcl-2, CyclinD1 and LGR5, along with diminished cell proliferation, migration, invasion and enhanced apoptosis. Meanwhile, cells with miR-374 inhibitors showed an opposite trend. These findings indicated that up-regulated miR-374 could inhibit the expression of TYR to suppress cell proliferation, migration, invasion and promote cell apoptosis in melanoma cells by inhibiting the Wnt signalling pathway.
Keywords: TYR gene; Wnt signalling pathway; apoptosis; melanoma; microRNA-374; proliferation.
© 2019 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine.