Ectopic expression of miR‐944 impairs colorectal cancer cell proliferation and invasion by targeting GATA binding protein 6

• Published in: Journal of cellular and molecular medicine Vol. 23; no. 5; pp. 3483 - 3494
• Main Authors: Tang, Jing‐Tong, Zhao, Jinbo, Sheng, Weiwei, Zhou, Jian‐Ping, Dong, Qi, Dong, Ming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.05.2019; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Base Sequence; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - genetics; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal Neoplasms - genetics; Colorectal Neoplasms - pathology; Down-Regulation - genetics; Ectopic Gene Expression; Female; GATA6; GATA6 Transcription Factor - genetics; GATA6 Transcription Factor - metabolism; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; invasion; Male; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; Middle Aged; migration; miR‐944; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Original; proliferation; GATA6; migration; colorectal cancer; invasion; proliferation; miR-944
• ISSN: 1582-1838; 1582-4934; 1582-4934
• DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.14245

miR‐944 is a microRNA that has been reported to play different important roles in the progression of cancer. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer worldwide. A recent study has confirmed that miR‐944 plays a tumour suppressive role in CRC. However, biological functions and the mechanism of miR‐944 in CRC are poorly understood. Real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction of 100 CRC tissues showed that miR‐944 expression is frequently downregulated and is negatively associated with the T is the primary tumor, N is the lymph node, and M is the distant metastasis (TNM) stage (P = 0.009), depth of invasion (P = 0.001), and lymph node status (P = 0.002). Overexpression of mir‐944 significantly impaired the functions of proliferation, migration and invasion in CRC cells, while these functions increased in knockdown experiments. GATA binding protein 6 (GATA6) knockdown can reverse the CRC cells functions induced by miR‐944 inhibitor. Mechanistically, a Dual‐Luciferase Reporter Assay showed that miR‐944 is structurally combined with GATA6 and interacts with downstream proteins (CRT and p‐AKT) in CRC cells. In conclusion, these findings indicated that miR‐944 may be a tumour suppressor and could likely be used as a prognostic predictor and novel therapeutic target for CRC.