Open AccessMicroRNA-221-3p Plays an Oncogenic Role in Gastric Carcinoma by Inhibiting PTEN Expression
Author(s) -
Jianping Shi,
Yi Zhang,
Nuyun Jin,
Yuqin Li,
Shengtian Wu,
Leiming Xu
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
oncology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1555-3906
pISSN - 0965-0407
DOI - 10.3727/096504016x14756282819385
Subject(s) - pten , gene silencing , cancer research , microrna , carcinogenesis , metastasis , ectopic expression , cancer , gastric carcinoma , carcinoma , biology , cell growth , tumor progression , medicine , cell culture , pathology , signal transduction , gene , pi3k/akt/mtor pathway , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Gastric carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies in men, and microRNA plays a critical role in regulating the signaling networks of gastric carcinoma tumorigenesis and metastasis. We first report the functional characteristics of miR-221-3p in gastric carcinoma. Quantification in gastric carcinoma cell lines and tumor samples reveals significantly increasing miR-221-3p expression. Moreover, a high level of miR-221-3p is correlated with a poor prognosis for gastric carcinoma patients. Ectopic miR-221-3p expression significantly promotes gastric carcinoma cell proliferation, invasion, and sphere formation, while silencing miR-221-3p significantly inhibits these abilities in gastric carcinoma cells. Tests in vivo showed that miR-221-3p significantly promotes tumor growth in xenograft mouse models. In this study, we reveal that miR-221-3p targets PTEN mRNA and downregulates PTEN, which is the possible mechanism of miR-221-3p-induced oncogenic properties. Collectively, we reveal a critical role for miR-221-3p in gastric carcinoma development and progression.