MiR-377 suppresses cell proliferation and metastasis in gastric cancer via repressing the expression of VEGFA

C.-Q. Wang, L. Chen, C.-L. Dong, Y. Song, Z.-P. Shen, W.-M. Shen, X.-D. Wu

Department of Gastroenterology, Yancheng City No. 1 People’s Hospital, Yancheng, China. wuxudong13442@163.com

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• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: In recent years, microRNAs have been identified to participate in tumor genesis and progression of different tumors including gastric cancer. However, the role of miR-377 played in gastric cancer (GC), and its mechanisms have not been demonstrated.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We detected miR-377 expression level in 86 GC and adjacent normal tissue samples by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) as well as in GC cell lines. The relationship between miR-377 and clinical pathological features was analyzed. Using miR-377 mimics and inhibitors, we interfered with miR-377 level and employed several functional experiments to study the miR-377 effects on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Western blot assay and dual-luciferase assay were used to verify the target of miR-377.

RESULTS: miR-377 expressed significantly lower in GC tissues and cell lines compared to normal tissues and GES-1 cells. Overexpression of miR-377 inhibited cell growth, migration and invasion, while downregulation miR-377 obviously promoted cell growth and metastasis. Furthermore, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) was confirmed as a direct target of miR-377 and reversed the influence of mir-377 over-expression.

CONCLUSIONS: miR-377 expressed lower in GC and suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion partly via repressing the VEGFA expression, which could provide a potential target for GC diagnosis and therapy.

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