MicroRNA-124-3p inhibits the growth and metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by targeting STAT3
Authors: Lian Hui
Xue-Jun Jiang
Ning Zhao
Shan Xu
Zi-Wei Miao
Min Song
Journal: Oncology Reports (2016)
Discipline: CLINICAL MEDICINE
Keywords: microRNA-124-3p; nasopharyngeal carcinoma; STAT3; apoptosis; proliferation
Affiliations: Department of ENT, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China., Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China., Developmental Biology Teaching and Research Section, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.

Abstract:  The present study investigated the effects of microRNA-124-3p (miR-124-3p) expression on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells and its relevant mechanism. A total of 90 NPC tissues and 85 postnasal catarrh tissues were collected. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect tissue samples and expression of miR-124-3p in CNE1, CNE2, SUNE1, H0NE1, 5-8F, 6-10B and C666-1 NPC cell line and immortalized nasopharyngeal epithelial cells line (NP69). Overexpressed miRNA-124-3p in CNE-2 was downregulated, and low-expressed miRNA‑124-3p in C666-1 was upregulated by liposome-mediated transfection. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), flow cytometry, the scratch test, Transwell migration assay and Boyden chamber assays were used to detect cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. The target gene of miRNA-124-3 calculated by bioinformatics was further determined using dual-luciferase system. Protein levels of the signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3), phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3), mouse anti-human cyclin D2 (CCND2) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) were tested by western blotting. miRNA-124-3p expression in NPC was markedly downregulated compared to postnasal catarrh tissues (P&lt;0.001); miRNA-124-3p expression showed close linkage with clinical stages, regional lymph node involvement and T stages (all P&lt;0.001). miRNA-124-3p expression was lower in the 7 NPC cell lines than NP69 cells (all P&lt;0.05). After upregulation of miR-124-3p, proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion of C666-1 cells were suppressed; while after downregulation of miR-124-3p, CNE2 cells were increased (all P&lt;0.05). Expression of STAT3, p-STAT3, CCND2 and MMP-2 in C666-1 cells was decreased after transfection with miRNA-124-3p, and the above protein expression in CNE-2 cells was increased after inhibition of miRNA-124-3p (all P&lt;0.05). To sum up, this study shows that miR-124-3p may negatively regulate the transcription of the STAT3 by interfering with its 3'UTR, and the degradation of STAT3 affects its downstream expression of such as p-STAT3, CCND2 and MMP-2, thereby promoting NPC cells apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation, migration and invasion of NPC cells. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
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 Fig 4B.  CNE-2 apoptosis in miRNA-124-3p inhibitor group was lower than inhibitor negative control (NC) group and blank control group . ![file] Fig 6 from [Mao et al (2017)] .  The apoptosis rate of A375 cells after transfection detected by Annexin V propidium iodide (AV-PI) double staining . ![file] How to explain the similarities between dust-bunnies? ,