MiR-610 functions as a tumor suppressor in oral squamous cell carcinoma by directly targeting AGK.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

MicroRNA-610 (miR-610) functions as a tumor suppressor in various types of cancers. However, whether miR-610 acted as a functional miRNA in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is still largely unknown. The current study was designed to explore the expression pattern and function of miR-610 in OSCC and to investigate the possible molecular mechanisms.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Quantitative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression of miR-610 in OSCC tissues and cells lines. The associations between miR-610 expression and clinicopathologic features and prognosis were analyzed. Proliferation, migration, and invasion capacities of OSCC cells were assessed after overexpressing miR-610. The regulation of acylglycerol kinase (AGK) by miR-610 was confirmed by Western blotting, Dual-Luciferase reporter assays and rescue experiments.

RESULTS:

We found that miR-610 expression was significantly down-regulated in both OSCC tissues and cell lines. Low miR-610 expression was associated with advanced T classification, TNM stage and poorer prognosis of OSCC patients. Functionally, the overexpression of miR-610 significantly suppressed OSCC cells proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT process. Mechanistically, AGK was confirmed to be the downstream target of miR-610 in OSCC cells. Furthermore, forced expression of AGK could rescue the inhibiting roles on cell proliferation and metastasis induced by miR-610 in OSCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our findings highlight the important role of miR-610 in regulating OSCC progression by targeting AGK, indicating that miR-610 may represent a novel potential therapeutic target and prognostic marker for OSCC.

• Authors: L-X Yao, J Liu, L Xu
• Journal: European review for medical and pharmacological sciences (Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci) Vol. 23 Issue 1 Pg. 187-197 (Jan 2019) ISSN: 2284-0729 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 30657560 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• MIRN610 microRNA, human
• MicroRNAs
• AGK protein, human
• Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)

Topics

• Cell Line, Tumor
• Female
• Gene Expression Profiling
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
• Genes, Tumor Suppressor
• Humans
• Male
• MicroRNAs (metabolism)
• Middle Aged
• Mouth Mucosa (pathology, surgery)
• Mouth Neoplasms (genetics, pathology, surgery)
• Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) (genetics)
• Prognosis
• Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck (genetics, pathology, surgery)