miRNA-221 promotes proliferation, migration and invasion by targeting TIMP2 in renal cell carcinoma

• Published in: International journal of clinical and experimental pathology Vol. 8; no. 5; pp. 5224 - 5229
• Main Authors: Lu, Guang-Jian, Dong, Yu-Qian, Zhang, Qun-Mei, Di, Wen-Yu, Jiao, Lu-Yang, Gao, Qing-Zu, Zhang, Chen-Guang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States e-Century Publishing Corporation 01.01.2015
• Subjects: 3' Untranslated Regions; Binding Sites; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - genetics; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - metabolism; Carcinoma, Renal Cell - pathology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Movement; Cell Proliferation; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Gene Knockdown Techniques; Genes, Reporter; Humans; Kidney Neoplasms - genetics; Kidney Neoplasms - metabolism; Kidney Neoplasms - pathology; Luciferases - genetics; Luciferases - metabolism; MicroRNAs - genetics; MicroRNAs - metabolism; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Oncogenes; Original; RNA Interference; Signal Transduction; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 - genetics; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 - metabolism; Transfection; TIMP2; miR-221; Clear cell renal cell carcinoma
• ISSN: 1936-2625

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in tumorigenesis. In this study, we investigated the role of miR-221 in the development and progression of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure the expression level of miR-221 in ccRCC tissues and cell lines. Then, we investigated the role of miR-221 to determine its potential roles on renal cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro. A luciferase reporter assay was conducted to confirm the target gene of miR-221 and the results were validated in renal cancer cells. In the present study, we found that miR-221 was significantly increased in ccRCC tissues and cell lines. Knocked-down expression of miR-221 remarkably inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion of renal cancer cells. Moreover, at the molecular level, our results suggested that TIMP2 as a direct target of miR-221 through which miR-221 promoted tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion. These findings suggested that miR-221 play an oncogenic role in the renal cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion by directly inhibiting the tumor suppressor TIMP2, indicating miR-221 act as a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of ccRCC.