MiR-1-3p Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation and Metastasis by Inhibiting YWHAZ-Mediated Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Guanghong Du; Xuelian Yu; Yun Chen; Wangting Cai

doi:10.3389/fonc.2021.634596

MiR-1-3p Suppresses Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation and Metastasis by Inhibiting YWHAZ-Mediated Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Front Oncol. 2021 Feb 26:11:634596. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2021.634596. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Guanghong Du¹, Xuelian Yu¹, Yun Chen¹, Wangting Cai²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Geriatrics, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
² Organ transplant center, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.

Abstract

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is regarded as one of the most common malignancies in the world. MiR-1-3p was reported to be a tumor suppressor in CRC. However, the mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.

Methods: To identify CRC-associated miRNA, microarray data set GSE30454 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GEO), and miR-1-3p was screened out as a candidate. The expression of miR-1-3p was detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in CRC cell lines and tissues. CCK-8 assay and transwell invasion assay were performed to determine CRC cell line proliferation and invasion, respectively. The levels of YWHAZ and EMT-associated proteins were detected using western blotting.

Results: Bioinformatic analysis showed that miR-1-3p was downregulated in CRC tissues, which is verified by our experimental validation. The overexpression of miR-1-3p significantly suppressed CRC cell proliferation and invasion. Further studies showed that YWHAZ was a direct target of miR-1-3p and mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) modulated by miR-1-3p.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that miR-1-3p suppresses colorectal cancer cell proliferation and metastasis through regulating YWHAZ-mediated EMT, which may support a novel therapeutic strategy for CRC patients.

Keywords: YWHAZ; colorectal cancer; epithelial–mesenchymal transition; miR-1-3p; progression.