miR-193b-3p possesses anti-tumor activity in ovarian carcinoma cells by targeting p21-activated kinase 3

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy Vol. 96; pp. 1275 - 1282
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jinzhi, Qin, Jinjin, Su, Yuanyuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.12.2017
• Subjects: Caspase 3 - genetics; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Proliferation - genetics; Down-Regulation - drug effects; Down-Regulation - genetics; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - genetics; Humans; MicroRNAs - genetics; miR-193b-3p; Ovarian carcinoma; Ovarian Neoplasms - drug therapy; Ovarian Neoplasms - genetics; p21-Activated Kinases - genetics; Paclitaxel - pharmacology; Paclitaxel sensitivity; PAK3; Proliferation; Up-Regulation - drug effects; Up-Regulation - genetics; Paclitaxel sensitivity; Proliferation; Ovarian carcinoma; PAK3; miR-193b-3p
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.11.086

miR-193b-3p was found to be downregulated and contributed to ovarian cancer (OC) progression. In the present study, we aimed to study the detailed role of miR-193b-3p in the development of OC and the underlying molecular mechanism. The results showed that miR-193b-3p was downregulated while PAK3 was upregulated in OC cells. Ectopic expression of miR-193b-3p and PAK3 knockdown repressed cell proliferation, promoted paclitaxel-induced cytotoxicity, and reinforced paclitaxel-mediated caspase-3 activity increase in OC cells. Notably, miR-193b-3p was identified to directly target PAK3 and suppressed PAK3 expression. Moreover, enforced expression of PAK3 partially overturned the effects of miR-193b-3p on OC cell proliferation and paclitaxel sensitivity. In conclusion, miR-193b-3p possessed anti-tumor activity in OC through inhibiting cell proliferation and enhancing paclitaxel sensitivity by targeting PAK3. Therefore, our study suggested that the miR-193b-3p/PAK3 axis might be a potential novel therapeutic target for OC.