Aims: MicroRNA-186 (miR-186) has been shown to be involved in various types of cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression level and functional role of miR-186 in human cutaneous malignant melanoma cells.
Subjects and methods: Expression of miR-186 was analyzed in human cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) cell lines SK-MEL-1, G-361, A375 and A875, and human normal epidermal melanocytes cell line HEMn-LP by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Additionally, the functional role of miR-186 on melanoma cells was investigated by transfection of miR-186 mimic followed by analyses of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis.
Results: We found that the expression levels of miR-186 were decreased in CMM cell lines compared with normal epidermal melanocytes cell line. Moreover, overexpression of miR-186 inhibited cells proliferation through abrogating the G1-S transition, and reduced cells migration and invasion.
Conclusions: Our findings suggested that miR-186 exhibit an inhibitory effect on CMM cell proliferation, migration, and invasion; thus, may serve as a potential therapeutic target for human CMM intervention.
Keywords: Cutaneous malignant melanoma; invasion; miR-186; proliferation.