MicroRNA-506 inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma through the inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by down-regulating LHX2

• Published in: Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 97 - 20
• Main Authors: Liang, Tian-Song, Zheng, Ying-Juan, Wang, Juan, Zhao, Jing-Yi, Yang, Dao-Ke, Liu, Zhang-Suo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central 21.02.2019; BMC
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - genetics; beta Catenin - genetics; Cadherins - genetics; Cancer therapies; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell growth; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement - genetics; Cell Proliferation - genetics; Down-Regulation - genetics; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition - genetics; Female; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - genetics; Humans; LIM Homeobox 2; LIM-Homeodomain Proteins - genetics; Lymph node metastasis; Lymphatic system; Male; Medical prognosis; Metastasis; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Nude; MicroRNA-506; MicroRNAs; MicroRNAs - genetics; Middle Aged; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma - genetics; Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma - pathology; Neoplasm Invasiveness - genetics; Neoplasm Invasiveness - pathology; Neoplasm Metastasis - genetics; Neoplasm Metastasis - pathology; Radiation therapy; RNA, Small Interfering - genetics; Software; Throat cancer; Transcription Factor 4 - genetics; Transcription Factors - genetics; Tumorigenesis; Vimentin - genetics; Wnt Signaling Pathway - genetics; Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway; Lymph node metastasis; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma; Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; LIM Homeobox 2; Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway; MicroRNA-506
• ISSN: 1756-9966; 0392-9078; 1756-9966
• DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1023-4

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-associated proteins play key roles in cancer progression and metastasis with the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs). This study aims to assess the role of miR-506 working in tandem with LIM Homeobox 2 (LHX2) in EMT and metastasis through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Differentially expressed genes associated with NPC were screened using microarray analyses, from which LHX2 was identified. Next, the potential relationship between miR-506 and LHX2 was analyzed. In order to explore the effect of miR-506 or LHX2 on NPC cell proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis, serials of mimics, inhibitors or siRNA against LHX2 were transfected into NPC cells. Then, the expression patterns of LHX2, Wnt1, β-catenin, E-cadherin, Vimentin, TCF4 and Twist were determined to assess the influence of miR-506 or LHX2 on EMT as well as the relationship between the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and TCF4. The tumorigenicity and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in xenograft tumors of nude mice were observed. The has-miR-506-3p was identified as the down-regulated gene in NPC based on the microarray data while LHX2 was negatively regulated by miR-506. Over-expression of miR-506 or silencing of LHK2 inhibited NPC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, tumorigenicity and LNM but promoted apoptosis indicated by decreased Wnt1, β-catenin, Vimentin, TCF4 and Twist expressions along with increased E-cadherin expressions. miR-506 inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in NPC via inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by down-regulating LHX2, accompanied by decreased TCF4. Taken together, miR-506 targeted-inhibition LHX2 presents a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of NPC. ChiCTR1800018889 . Registered 15 October 2018.