MicroRNA-138 Abates Fibroblast Motility With Effect on Invasion of Adjacent Cancer Cells

• Published in: Frontiers in oncology Vol. 12; p. 833582
• Main Authors: Rajthala, Saroj, Parajuli, Himalaya, Dongre, Harsh Nitin, Ljøkjel, Borghild, Hoven, Kristin Marie, Kvalheim, Arild, Lybak, Stein, Neppelberg, Evelyn, Sapkota, Dipak, Johannessen, Anne Christine, Costea, Daniela-Elena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Norwegian
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 17.03.2022
• Subjects: cancer-associated fibroblasts; heterogeneity; invasion; motility; Oncology; oral cancer; motility; cancer-associated fibroblasts; invasion; heterogeneity; oral cancer
• ISSN: 2234-943X; 2234-943X
• DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.833582

Recent studies have shown aberrant expression of micro-RNAs in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). This study aimed to investigate miR-138 dysregulation in CAFs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its effects on their phenotype and invasion of adjacent OSCC cells. Expression of miR-138 was first investigated in OSCC lesions ( = 53) and OSCC-derived CAFs ( = 15). MiR-138 mimics and inhibitors were used to functionally investigate the role of miR-138 on CAF phenotype and the resulting change in their ability to support OSCC invasion. Expression of miR-138 showed marked heterogeneity in both OSCC tissues and cultured fibroblasts. Ectopic miR-138 expression reduced fibroblasts' motility and collagen contraction ability and suppressed invasion of suprajacent OSCC cells, while its inhibition resulted in the opposite outcome. Transcript and protein examination after modulation of miR-138 expression showed changes in CAF phenotype-specific molecules, focal adhesion kinase axis, and TGFβ1 signaling pathway. Despite its heterogeneous expression, miR-138 in OSCC-derived CAFs exhibits a tumor-suppressive function.