miR-642 serves as a tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating SEMA4C and p38 MAPK signaling pathway

• Published in: Oncology letters Vol. 20; no. 4; p. 74
• Main Authors: Yu, Zaijun, Du, Yuehe, Li, Hongying, Huang, Jichao, Jiang, Deqing, Fan, Jilong, Shen, Yuelan, Zhang, Lingling, Yu, Xiujuan, Xu, Na, Ke, Qungang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece Spandidos Publications 01.10.2020; Spandidos Publications UK Ltd; D.A. Spandidos
• Subjects: Analysis; Binding sites; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell growth; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Liver cancer; Medical prognosis; Membranes; Metastasis; Signal transduction; Statistical analysis; Variance analysis; China; migration; miR-642a; invasion; hepatocellular carcinoma; SEMA4C
• ISSN: 1792-1074; 1792-1082
• DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.11935

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with high incidence and high risk. Study of the role and mechanism of miRNAs are a hot spot of research providing new treatment ideas in malignant tumors. The effect of miR-642a on HCC progression and the underlying molecular mechanism were investigated. Expression of miR-642a and SEMA4C was measured by western blot analysis and RT-PCR. miR-642a expression was elevated while SEMA4C expression was attenuated in HCC tissues and cells. Results of luciferase reporter and western blot analyses show that miR-642a modulated SEMA4C expression by binding to its 3'UTR. Moreover, miR-642a negatively regulated SEMA4C expression. HCC cell migration and invasion was tested by Transwell assays. The findings revealed that the number of migrated and invaded cells were reduced by miR-642a mimic and raised by miR-642a inhibitor, indicating that miR-642a showed a suppression effect on HCC cell migration and invasion. Additionally, the migration and invasion of HCC cells were inhibited by SEMA4C siRNA, and SEMA4C reversed miR-642a effect on HCC migration and invasion. Furthermore, p38 MAPK signaling pathway was proven to be inhibited by miR-642a mimic, whereas facilitated by miR-642a inhibitor and SEMA4C siRNA could overturn the promotion effect of miR-642a inhibitor. Briefly, miR-642a targeted SEMA4C to repress HCC cell migration and invasion through p38 MAPK signaling pathway providing a new strategy for treatment of HCC patients.